Local man found dead following fire

RITZVILLE – One man is dead following an early morning fire Dec. 31, just outside of the city.

"The victim is expected to be identified as Glenn Foley, age 76," Adams County Prosecuting Attorney/Coroner Randy Flyckt, said.

An investigation into the death and the circumstances of the fire is ongoing by the Adams County Sheriff's Office, Adams County Fire Marshal and Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.

Adams County Fire District No. 1 responded at 4:44 a.m. Dec. 31 to a fire at the residence of Walter Foley and Stacey Plummer, in the 1800 block of East Wellsandt Road, about a mile east of the Interstate 90 overpass, records show.

When firefighters arrived, they found a fire burning a shop building adjacent to the home, records show.

After the fire was controlled, firefighters discovered a deceased person in the debris inside the structure, records show.

According to Fire District No. 1 Chief Scott Kemble, there was living quarters set up inside the shop building; 8 trucks and 16 firefighters from Fire District No. 1 responded.

Ritzville EMTs responded to the scene to monitor the health and safety of firefighters as they worked in the single digit temperatures, officials said, noting 12,000 gallons of water were used to extinguish the blaze.

First responders were out for four hours in the frigid temperatures.

Chauna Carlson provided breakfast for the firefighters from Love's Travel Stop when firefighters returned to the station.