House Fire Kills Man, Dog

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a house fire that killed a Dunedin man and his dog early Monday morning.

The blaze broke out before 6 a.m. at 444 N. Paula Drive, No. 215, in the Scottish Towers II complex. In an email to media, deputies said the fire appears to have started near a bed inside the studio apartment.

Ronald Riley, 54, and his dog, Niles, were found dead inside. There was a working smoke alarm inside the studio, the email said.

While the cause of the fire remains unknown, the sheriff’s office says it does not appear suspicious at this time.