VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Canadian firefighters who put out a fire in a steel shipping container discovered the remains of a homeless man who had been living in it, police said.
The fire was reported around 10 p.m. Tuesday behind a Vancouver business and firefighters weren't aware anyone was inside until the fire was out, the Vancouver Sun reported.
"It appeared the victim had been living in the container for up to a year, with a bed, chair, hotplate and television found inside," said Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman Cpl. Richard de Jong.
The unidentified man was 53 years old and recognized by police, de Jong said.
"This death is very tragic for the individual who was known to police for his lifestyle on the streets of North Vancouver," he said. "He survived by panhandling, picking up bottles and scraping together what he could."
Fire investigators said it appears a burning candle on a chair fell over and foul play is not suspected.
The man's cause of death was listed as smoke inhalation, the reports said.
