Authorities have ruled the February house fire near Manchester that killed a man as accidental, according to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office.

The ruling came after an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office following the fire on Feb. 16. Authorities executed a search warrant and examined the remains of the house fire on Feb. 27.

The fire, at 25886 708th Ave., killed 79-year-old Edson Lebeck.

Firefighters from multiple departments, including Manchester, Clarks Grove, Geneva, Hartland, Alden, Freeborn and Albert Lea Township, responded to the house. The fire grew quickly, and the house was ultimately fully engulfed. Both the main and upper floors collapsed into the basement.

Authorities previously stated Lebeck was working on a water heater in the basement when the fire started.

The Lebeck family house had been the subject of several photographs and paintings over the years.