RIPLEY — The occupant of a working garage during a fire Monday has unfortunately passed away as of Monday evening, reports Ripley Fire Department Chief Mark Smith.

Ripley Fire Department was called to 10759 Route 20 at about 11 a.m. Monday morning, where the fire was quickly quelled and the working garage sustained no damage, but the injuries to Harry Hauser, 79, were significantly more severe.

Hauser was taken to UPMC Hamot in Erie before being transported to the Pittsburgh Burn Center due to second- and third-degree burns covering 70-80 percent of his body.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Chautauqua County Fire Investigation team, but Smith says there is currently nothing suspicious about the fire.

“The reason they’re investigating is because of the person that got burned, and how the burns occurred,” said Smith.

“This is part of why it’s under investigation, whether it was a gas or propane explosion,” said Smith. “That’s why I can’t really say a whole lot, because not everything adds up.”

More information will be released as it becomes available.