Retired firefighter killed in Vinton fire (w/ video)

VINTON, Va. (AP) — A retired Roanoke firefighter has died in a Vinton house fire.

Officials haven’t released the man’s identity, but neighbors and a friend say 60-year-old Kenneth Watson was killed in the weekend blaze.

The fire was reported around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and brought a power line down on top of the house. That complicated the job for firefighters.

After searching the home, firefighters found Watson’s body in the living room.

The cause is being investigated, but Betty Anderson, who says she was a companion of Watson’s, said a burnt cigarette was found nearby and that Watson used supplemental oxygen at night.

Roanoke Fire-EMS spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury issued a statement Saturday saying the force was ``deeply saddened’‘ by the death of Watson, a fire captain who had served for nearly 30 years.