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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) A gas water heater appears to be the cause of a fire that killed a man and destroyed a house in Valley City on Sunday.

Fire Chief Gary Retterath says it appears the blaze broke out near the a gas water heater according to the burn pattern in the home’s basement.

Retterath tells KOVC radio that the body of 85 year-old Art Kirschenman has been sent to the State Forensic Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to determine his cause of death.

Retterath says Kirschenman’s wife, 82 year-old Arlene, was not injured in the fire but KFGO radio reports she was in fair condition in a Fargo hospital on Monday. Retterath says Arlene was taken to the hospital for observation.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire.

Retterath is reminding homeowners to always have a working smoke detector in your home and to make sure the batteries are updated annually. 

Photos by Kaitlyn Huss.

 Above photos by Kaitlyn Huss.