Authorities ID Victims In Isanti County Fatal Fire

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities said a 56-year-old man and 65-year-old woman, both of Braham, were found dead in a house fire in Itasca County on Tuesday.

Fire crews were called to the 41000 block of Polk Street NE in rural Braham at about 11:53 a.m. Tuesday on a report of a fire. When authorities arrived, the house was fully involved and the two people inside the home didn't make it out alive.

The Isanti County Sheriff's Office identified the victims Thursday as Ronald Jerome Musta and Kathleen Kay Johnson, both of Braham. Fire officials have ruled their deaths accident and said they died of smoke inhalation.

Though most of the structure was destroyed, investigators said the fire began in the kitchen and spread quickly. Fire officials didn't say if there were smoke detectors in the home.