A post commander with the Veterans of Foreign Wars was killed during a Thursday morning fire in Aberdeen.
According to Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley, Howard Ausborn, 76, died from smoke inhalation inside his residence on Highway 45. His wife was also at the home but was not injured during the blaze.
Firefighters and first responders made it to the scene after a motorist called Monroe County 911 at approximately 4:33 a.m. to report the house fire.
“When first responders and EMS arrived, they found Mr. Ausborn laying in his yard. Lifesaving methods were performed, but he was pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. by a paramedic,” Gurley noted in a press release. “His wife reported they were awakened by smoke detectors and went outside. She said Mr. Ausborn went back into the house to try to rescue the family dog. The dog was later found deceased by firefighters.”
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating what started the fire. No autopsy is expected to be performed on Ausborn’s body, per the release.
Ausborn was a local businessman and a Vietnam War veteran. At the time of his death, he was serving as commander of VFW Post #4490 after previously holding the position of 8-ball chapter president of the In-Country Vietnam Motorcycle Club. Ausborn was once the owner of A&A Turfgrass outside of Aberdeen.
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