UPDATE 03/04/022 5:00 p.m. – The name of a man found dead inside a house that was destroyed by a earlier in the day has been released.

According to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan, the body of Val Almonord, age 47, was found by firefighters in the house following Friday’s fire.

Columbus Fire and EMS responded to the fire at the corner of 16th Street and 14th Avenue at around 10:20 a.m. Friday morning.

Almonord’s body will be sent to the GBI crime lab for an autospy.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) – Columbus Fire and EMS responded to a large fire at the corner of 16th street and 14th Avenue on Friday morning. Officials have confirmed the fire has claimed the life of one person.

According to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan, a body has been found inside the structure. The identity for the individual has not been released. At this time, officials with the coroner’s office cannot enter the house to retrieve the victim’s body due to safety concerns, because the structure is still hot.

According to Division Chief John Shull, crews responded to the fire at around 10:20 am on March 4, 2021.

Shull said one firefighter was also injured in the fire. The firefighter suffered thermal burns. At this point, it is not believed the injuries are serious, according to Shull.

The home was fully engulfed when crews arrived. It took crews, including a ladder truck shooting water down into the burning home, to bring it under control.

Shull said crews will be on scene for a while due to the extensive nature of the the fire.

When the structure has cooled enough, the officials with the coroner’s office will be allowed on scene to retrieve the victim’s body, according to Shull.

This is a developing story. Stay with WRBL News 3 for new details as the become available.