Man, 30, Found Dead In St. Paul Fire Identified

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities said a man who was found dead in a St. Paul townhouse fire Sunday morning had been drinking.

Fire crews were called to the blaze on the 700 block of Glendale Avenue at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. When authorities arrived, flames had extended up to the second floor of an 11-unit townhouse complex and were going through the roof of the building.

Authorities found the victim on the first floor of the home. A smoke detector was found in a closet, likely by the resident. The victim was identified Tuesday as 30-year-old Christopher Meusburger.

Authorities said he died of smoke inhalation and was impaired at the time of the fire as he had a blood alcohol level of .26. Fire officials said the cause of the fire is undetermined because they can't rule out careless smoking or an electrical source as the cause.