A person critically injured in an Oct. 17 house fire within the Battle Creek neighborhood has died of his injuries, St. Paul Fire Department officials said Friday.

His death marks the eighth death that’s connected to fires this 12 months in the town, making 2024 “one the deadliest years in history” for fire fatalities, the officials said. 4 of the deaths were young siblings who perished in a January house fire on the East Side.

Shortly before 3 a.m. on Oct. 17, St. Paul fire crews responded to a blaze within the 10 block of Nelson Street that was later found to have originated in a tuck-under garage at the home. When crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage of the two-story home.

Three teenagers outside said that everybody was out. But after firefighters extinguished the flames and were searching the home, they found the teenagers’ father unconscious within the basement. He was pulled from the house and medics began lifesaving measures as they transported him to a hospital in critical condition.

Authorities later said that the teenagers woke up their sleeping father to evacuate, but he apparently collapsed on his way out.

“Our hearts exit to the family and family members of the victim during this profoundly difficult time. Every life lost is a painful reminder of the hazards fire can bring,” fire officials said in a Friday statement announcing the death of the person, who hasn’t been officially identified.

The hearth was ruled accidental and determined to have began within the engine compartment of a vehicle parked within the garage.

“Smoke detectors awoke the household, allowing several others to flee safely. The adult male was unable to make it out in time,” the officials said. “As at all times, this tragedy underscores the importance of getting working and properly placed smoke detectors, an exit plan and a protected gathering location in case of emergency.”