Authorities say a house fire that claimed the life of a Rossville man is being classified as accidental at this time.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, a small house fire erupted at 59 Osceola Ave. in Rossville, near the Tennessee-Georgia state line.

The resident, 59-year-old Robert F. Goode, was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to spokesperson Glenn Allen of the Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner’s Office in Atlanta, the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

“Fire investigators haven't given a definitive cause of the fire as of this moment, but it appears as though the victim was smoking in the home while using oxygen equipment,” Allen said. “The case isn’t closed, but we don’t think that investigators will be back out to the residence.”

The house, on a dead-end road, sustained minor damage during the incident.

“As we’ve stated from the beginning, the fire appears to be accidental, and no foul play is believed to be suspected in the case,” Allen said.