(This story has been updated to reflect new information gathered on Friday.)

BOSTIAN HEIGHTS – A garage that caught fire in the 300 block of Log Barn Road just outside Faith Thursday night has taken the life of one person and one dog, according to fire officials.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the victim’s identity on Friday. The deceased man’s name is Riley Vester Robinson, 88.

Captain Todd Taylor of the Bostian Heights fire department said the initial call reporting a garage on fire came in about 10:20 p.m. By the time first firefighters arrived on the scene they found “heavy fire that involved the house.”

Taylor confirmed that one resident has died, and said firefighters are not aware of any other residents at the address. He also confirmed one dog did not survive.

Firefighters will remain on the scene for some time to do an overhaul, said Taylor, making sure the fire is completely out and that any evidence is preserved, because with a fatality, the investigation is now a police matter. The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division has taken over the investigation with assistance from the Rowan County Fire Marhsal’s Office, which will work to determine the cause of the fire, and likely with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigations.

Taylor said there was mutual aid from around the county, and because it is a rural area without hydrants, they did prepare for a tanker relay, but he added that the fire was under control “within moments.”

Though the cause of this fire has not been determined, Taylor said “it is cold, so if you decide to use fire as an alternate source of heat, or to use space heaters, please be careful. Don’t overload cords or outlets, and if you see any sign of fire at all, even just smoke, call us immediately. Before you even try to put the fire out yourself, call us. It takes us a few minutes to get to you, and the faster you get us on our way, the faster we can help. So please, call us the minute you see or smell anything.”