Detained man dies in fire at police building in southwest Alaska community

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A man died in a fire at a police department where he was being detained in a southwest Alaska community, authorities said.

Alaska State Troopers said they were notified early Friday of a fire at the Mountain Village Police Department, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Two men were being detained there at the time by village police officers on what are sometimes referred to as mental health holds, troopers said.

One of the men was evacuated safely, while the other, a 39-year-old, was found dead, troopers said.

A village police officer was treated for minor injuries.

Troopers said in a statement that a preliminary investigation by deputy fire marshals indicated that the blaze began in one of the occupied holding cells and was likely started with a lighter by one of the two men. They did not elaborate further on that point.

The investigation is ongoing.