What Do Fire Officials Think Caused West Des Moines Fire?

Careless smoking is the likely cause of a Wednesday afternoon fire that left one resident of a house at 813 Seventh St. hospitalized, Mike Whitsell said in a news release Thursday.

Michael Huckleberry, 26, one of the residents of the house, remains hospitalized at an undisclosed hospital, according to the news release. Matthew Seagren, 29, was treated and released.

Huckleberry was believed to be in the basement when the fire started. He was unconscious when emergency responders arrived at the house.

Whitsell said the cause of the fire is still classified as undetermined, “but investigators are looking strongly at the possibility that an occupant fell asleep while smoking a cigarette.”