Moses Lake fire victim identified

MOSES LAKE — A 43-year-old Moses Lake man has been identified as the victim found dead in a house damaged by fire Dec. 13. 

James Rohrer was found in a residence in the 7400 block of Blue Goos Road NE about 4 p.m. Dec. 13. A neighbor found Rohrer’s body after becoming concerned that the garage door had been open since the previous day, according to a release from Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.  

The neighbor went to investigate and found Rohrer on the floor and smoke and heat damage in the house.  

“Grant County Fire Marshal Nathan Poplawski says the cause of the fire is undetermined, but it originated in a living room couch. There was evidence Rohrer tried to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher,” Foreman said. “It is believed (Rohrer) was overcome by smoke.” 

The residence was airtight, so the apparently burned until it ran out of oxygen, Foreman said.