Fire Investigator Lt. G.B. Hannan stands in the burned out apartments at the River Creek complex, April 10, 2008. [FILE/MIKE ADAMS/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE] ▲ The aftermath of the fire at the former Dent's Funeral Home location in Augusta, Ga., Monday evening February 3, 2020. [MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE] ▲ The former Dent's funeral home in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday afternoon June 4, 2019. [MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE] ▲

An Augusta man who died in a fire Saturday morning was a former Augusta Fire Department officer.

Goseboro Bytins "G.B." Hannan, 71, was identified using fingerprints after being found inside the Old Dent's Undertaking Establishment at 930 D'Antignac Street.

According to the fire department, Hannan was a former lieutenant and began his career with the department in 1979. He also served as a fire investigator and was promoted to interim fire marshal in 2005 until he was released in 2008.

"I want to send our condolences to G.B.'s family," Fire Chief/EMA Director Christopher E. James said in a release. "We, as a department, understand G.B. was going through a very difficult time, but the loss of a firefighter still resonates throughout the department. There are still firefighters who worked with, and fondly remember, G.B."

The department said they have reached out to Hannan's family and will assist them with funeral arrangements.

The building was completely destroyed by the fire and Hannan's body was found inside, burned beyond recognition. Fire crews were able to rescue a dog in the fire.

The fire department cleared the building and knocked down the brick walls Tuesday to reduce the hazard risk. The building used to house Dent's Undertaking Establishment , one of the first black-owned funeral homes in Augusta.

The business moved to the 900 block of D'Antignac Street in 1900 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Augusta Chronicle archives. The state Department of Revenue closed the business in 2009 after it repeatedly failed to pay sales taxes owed to the state and county.

In 2014, Hannan found his mother and owner of the funeral home, Thomasina Ketch, dead inside the living quarters of the building. Ketch, along with her sister Juliette Brown, had assumed ownership of the business in 1985.

In a 2006 Augusta Chronicle story, Ketch said Hannan was expected to take over the business.

"When his time comes, he will move right in," Ketch said. "That's how it happened with us. It's expected."

The building was sold for $55,768 to the Augusta Land Bank Authority in 2017. In a statement, the authority expressed its condolences regarding Hannan's death and the loss of the building.

"It was with tremendous disappointment that we received the news that the old Historic Dent's Funeral Home had been consumed by fire over the weekend. Unfortunately, it appears as if this asset has now been lost to the community which proudly surrounded it," the statement reads. "But more importantly, is the report of a life lost in this tragic event. We wish to offer our condolences to the family of the deceased who lost their life during this devastating time."

The bank authority said it will continue to work with the coroner's office and District Attorney's office as they investigate the fire.