Victim identified in fatal Newport fire

July 12, 2016 10:14 pm

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

A fire on Halsey Street only took minutes to put out, but firefighters made a grim discovery once inside the building.

57-year-old Luke Walker of Middletown was found dead by fire fighters at 3:34 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

Newport fire crews responded to the Newport County Tradesman Center and quickly extinguished the flames when they found the body inside the structure.

The industrial complex contains several different businesses and neighbors who saw the fire told ABC6 that it is usually empty in that area in the evening.

“That was very shocking to hear. For something like that to happen in such a quiet area, not much really goes on here. It’s closed off. No through traffic, just the businesses, so come nighttime there is nothing going on here.”

Newport Fire and Police are working in conjunction with the State Fire Marshall and State Police on the investigation.

No firefighters were injured.