Man held in Alaska police building dies after fire breaks out

A man held at a police station in southwest Alaska died after a fire broke out in the building, authorities said.

Alaska State Troopers said they were alerted early Friday morning to a fire at the Mountain Village Police Department, where two men were being held. They said the two men were being held on what is sometimes called mental health charges.

One of the men was safely evacuated, while the other, identified as 39-year-old Lawrence Chiklak, was found dead, troopers said. A village police officer was treated for minor injuries.

Police said the fire caused significant damage to about two-thirds of the building. A preliminary investigation by deputy firefighters revealed that the fire started in one of the occupied cells and was likely started with a lighter by one of the two men. They did not elaborate on that point.

The investigation is ongoing.