A man was killed in a house fire Wednesday night, according to the Mesa Fire Department.
Officials said the man was having dinner down the street with friends when he was notified that his house was on fire. The fire was reported shortly before 9 p.m.
The man and his two friends ran to the home to see if it could be put our and to grab some personal items.
The man, later identified as 74-year-old Joseph Chouinard, was concerned about his car and ran inside to grab his keys. Sadly, he did not make it out and was found dead inside the home near Sossaman and Baseline roads.
Police have considered the fire "suspicious" because they do not known how the fire started and because the man died. They are investigating the man's death as a homicide.
His two friends ran inside the home, made it out alive, but were treated for smoke inhalation. Two officers were also evaluated for smoke inhalation.
Crews rspndd to house fire. One deceased victim in the home. Fire undr cntrl; 2 others trtd for smoke inhalation. Fire under investigation.
— Mesa Fire & Medical (@MesaFireDept) March 24, 2016
No other details were released.
