Austin Fire Victim Has Been Identified

Austin, MN (Learfield) -- Authorities have identified the Austin man who died in a garage fire on Thanksgiving morning.

Austin Fire Chief Jim McCoy says 43-year-old Jorge Abeyta was found dead inside the garage when firefighters arrived around 9 a.m. Thursday. Abeyta was visiting his stepbrother and friends at the home.

An autopsy on Friday determined that Abeyta died of smoke inhalation. The fire chief says investigators are still waiting for the results of a toxicology report.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but authorities don't consider it suspicious. McCoy says the fire didn't produce many flames, but a couch and chair that burned produced a lot of smoke. Damages are estimated at around $11,000.