LATEST UPDATE: Apartment fire claims Ely man, cause of fire determined, victim died before blaze started

December 31 – Ely fire officials have released additional details regarding last Wednesday’s fire at the Grahek Apartments in Ely and the death of 70 year old David Cashman. An investigation involving the Ely Fire Department, Ely Police Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that Cashman died from a medical condition prior to the start of the fire. Cashman’s body was discovered shortly after Ely firefighters knocked down the blaze in his apartment. The cause of the fire was determined to be smoking materials and ruled accidental. Ely firefighters, Ely ambulance personnel and law enforcement officers were able to quickly evacuate the apartment building’s residents to the nearby Ely-Bloomenson Hospital shortly after the fire was called in. No other injuries were reported. The Babbitt and Morse-Fall Lake fire departments were also dispatched. Ely fire officials reminded area residents to have a fire escape plan, as well as working smoke detectors.