A tragic incident occurred in a police station in a southwestern Alaskan community, resulting in the death of a man during a fire while he was in custody, according to local authorities.

Early Friday, Alaska State Troopers received reports about a fire at the Mountain Village Police Department. Two individuals were being held at the facility under circumstances often described as mental health evaluations, as confirmed by the troopers.

While one detainee was successfully evacuated, the other, a 39-year-old man, was sadly discovered deceased at the scene. In addition, a police officer from the village received medical attention for injuries that were not severe.

According to a statement from the troopers, initial findings from deputy fire marshals suggested that the fire originated in one of the active holding cells and was potentially ignited using a lighter by one of the detainees. Further details on this matter have not been provided.

The authorities are continuing their inquiry into the situation, hoping to uncover more facts surrounding the incident.