A man died in a fire in a residential building in Lohmar, southeast of Cologne, on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old had already left the burning house with his 43-year-old wife, but then apparently returned to save a cat, the Rhein-Sieg district police said.
The fire brigade was able to rescue the 56-year-old against 3.
Lohmar - 00 o'clock rescue seriously injured.
The man died at the scene of the fire.
Criminal Investigation Department took over the investigation.
There was initially no evidence of a crime.
The police estimate the damage at 300,000 to 400,000 euros.
dpa