Rockville Fire Victim Identified, Plus Cause of Death

ROCKVILLE, MD — Authorities have released the cause of death of the 71-year-old homeowner killed in the March 2 house fire on Willow Lane. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Larry Pagliai's cause of death was smoke inhalation, and the death was ruled as accidental.

Authorities determined that Pagliai lived alone in the house. His body was found the morning after the fire at about 10 a.m., police said.

About 75 Montgomery County firefighters battled the fire in the 16100 block of Willow Lane in Rockville. The investigation into what started the deadly fire continues, said fire department spokesman Pete Piringer.

See Related: (Update) Missing Resident Identified, Body Found At Rockville Fire Scene

The fire was reported at 10:15 p.m. March 2. Firefighters arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames.

Piringer said it took firefighters 15 to 20 minutes to knock down the bulk of the fire. He said some brush fires did ignite and were quickly extinguished.

Crews brought heavy equipment to the scene Friday to sift through the debris, and a search dog went through parts of the ruins Friday morning.

The house is a complete loss, Piringer said, and about $800,000 of damage was done.

»Photos of Rockville house fire, courtesy of Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services