Victim in fatal fire in vacant house near Palmetto Health Richland identified

Officials identified the victim and cause of death after he was found in a house that had caught fire over the weekend.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said Ira Lee Carter, 51, of Columbia died in the house fire at 3121 Carver St. Saturday. The house is near the campus of Palmetto Health Richland hospital.

An autopsy indicated Carter died from smoke inhalation, the release stated.

A cause for the house fire, which Columbia Fire Department officials said appeared abandoned, has not been released yet.

The City of Columbia Police Department and the fire department continue to investigate the incident.

This story was originally published December 14, 2016 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Victim in fatal fire in vacant house near Palmetto Health Richland identified."