A 70-year-old man is dead after running back into a burning Columbia-area condo to rescue his sleeping wife.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said Sunday that 70-year-old Harold Morse died of smoke inhalation due to the Saturday morning fire.

Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins told multiple media organizations that re-entered his condominium to wake his wife after noticing she wasn't outside. Jenkins says he spoke to the woman, who said she was asleep. Officials say Morse roused his wife but later succumbed to the smoke.

The fire chief said Morse's dying act was heroic.