A Bow resident has been identified as the victim of a fire that tore through a house in Stark on Sunday.
Michael Bussiere, 63, died of smoke inhalation and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death accidental.
Shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 18, a woman at 37 Montgomery Road told a neighbor her house was on fire. The neighbor called 911.
Before firefighters arrived, the neighbor tried to enter the burning home to reach Bussiere, but the rapidly growing flames prevented them, authorities said.
When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed, with flames pouring from the doors and windows. The intense conditions kept firefighters from going inside right away.
The fire was brought under control around 4:30 a.m. But when crews searched the home, Bussiere and two dogs were found dead. The woman was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with serious injuries. She remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation. But authorities said the fire is not considered suspicious, and investigators believe a wood stove inside the home could have sparked the flames.
Firefighters from Milan and Groveton assisted at the scene, while members of the Lancaster and Berlin fire departments covered stations in the area.
