A man killed in a house fire in Columbia Heights last week has been identified as 59-year-old Brian “Beany” Drews.

Brian “Beany” Drews (Courtesy of GoFundMe)

Drews was “such a selfless person and played a huge part in the upbringing of so many lives,” a family friend wrote on a GoFundMe page. “He leaves behind so many loved ones including his son Conner.”

Firefighters and police were called to Drews’ burning home in the 4600 block of Seventh Street Northeast just before 1 a.m. Thursday. When responders went inside, they found Drews unconscious in the living room, Columbia Heights Fire Chief Charlie Thompson said Tuesday.

Drews was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

A pet pig and dog were found dead in the home, the Anoka County sheriff’s office said.

Thompson said the two-alarm fire started in Drews’ bedroom, but what sparked it remains under investigation.

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