BANGOR, Maine — The man who Bangor Police found dead in an apartment after a fire last week has been identified as 46-year-old Christopher Pickering.
Pickering lived in the apartment at 57 Essex Street. Around 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 12, State Street in Bangor closed due to the fire. Upon arrival, fire crews observed that the fire was coming from inside the first floor apartment. As they were extinguishing the fire, they found Pickering deceased inside the apartment.
The Fire Marshal’s office was then contacted and responded to assist with the investigation. Pickering was transported to the Medical Examiner’s office in Augusta where an autopsy was conducted the next day.
The results of the autopsy are pending as further testing is being conducted.
The investigation into the fire is being conducted by the Bangor Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division, as well as the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office.
Multiple fire departments responded to the scene. One member of the Bangor PD was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation as a result of the fire.
An aggressive attack was initiated while crews searched and evacuated the building. There is extensive fire and smoke damage to the building. According to Bangor police, the American Red Cross is assisting those who live there.
