MILFORD, Conn. — The cause of death has been revealed for a man who was in a wooded area that caught fire at the back of a Lowe's store in Milford.

Joseph Kane, who was 57, had died after a fire happened at a homeless encampment in a wooded area at the back of the Lowe's store on Old Gate Lane in August.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed Wednesday that Kane's death was caused by smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, and that the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

One firefighter received a minor injury and the fire did not spread to Lowe's, officials said at the time of the fire.

It remains unknown how the fire started and it is still not clear whether Kane lived at the encampment.

Police said after the fire in August that a criminal investigation into the i

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