CINCINNATI -- Authorities have identified a man found dead inside a Bond Hill home early Wednesday morning after firefighters put out a fire out there.
Cincinnati firefighters were called to Lawn Avenue shortly after midnight, according to Cincinnati dispatchers. Once they put out the fire, crews said they found 86-year-old Harrison Robertson dead inside.
Authorities believe the fire began in a front room, but have not determined what started the fire.
A neighbor said barking dogs woke her up and she smelled smoke. She got out of bed, saw the flames coming from her neighbor's windows and called 911.
Some neighbors tried to kick the front door down of Robertson's home, but could not get inside.
Investigators spent most of the early morning hours collecting evidence from the residence. Officials said they did not find any working smoke detectors in the home.
Nearby residents said Robinson had lived in the home for more than 40 years and was well loved by the community.
One neighbor told WCPO that Robinson would take care of her lawn and that he loved to hunt and fish.
However, neighbors said Robinson was ill and starting to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
A neighbor told WCPO’s Zac Pitts that Robinson used oxygen and was a smoker. He reported had burned his mouth before.
No nearby homes were damaged in the fire. Robertson was scheduled to undergo an autopsy to confirm cause of death. Investigators said it was possible Robertson died of natural causes before the fire began.
