UPDATE: Police say deadly Watertown fire appears to be “accidental in nature”

December 9, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Watertown police have released a bit more information on a person found dead in a garage fire Wednesday morning.

Fire crews were called to 1004 First Avenue Southeast just after 8:30. When they got there, they found the duplex home had no one inside, and smoke coming from an adjacent garage (pictured).

The fire was extinguished, and that’s when the deceased male was found.

Detective Sergeant Trevor Barthel says the initial investigation indicates the cause of the fire was accidental in nature.

An autopsy is being conducted on the victim, whose name has not been released.

The South Dakota Fire Marshal, South Dakota DCI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are assisting local authorities in the investigation.