New Bremen man perishes in camper fire

NEW BREMEN - A 19-year-old man who was slated to coach youth basketball later this year was killed early Sunday morning in a camper fire in a field along Southland Road.

Ben Homan of New Bremen was found dead inside the camper by St. Marys Township fire and EMS officials who responded to the scene following a 911 call placed at 1:12 a.m. The camper was fully engulfed when three fire trucks and 14 crew members arrived on scene, fire chief Chad Hicks told the newspaper.

The 911 caller noted people were still inside the camper. However, no other injuries were reported by the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's report stated there was a gathering of five young adults at the property, east of county Road 66A, and Homan was sleeping in the camper. The camper reportedly was completely destroyed in the blaze.

The property, which housed the camper and a shed, is owned by Kurt Warner of New Bremen.

No further details were provided by county coroner Dr. Thomas Freytag or the State Fire Marshal's Office. The fire department was on the scene until about 6 a.m. Sunday, Hicks said.

Also providing assistance were New Bremen police.

Homan, a 2014 high school graduate, was an athlete at New Bremen schools, playing four years of high school basketball and football his junior year, according to school athletic director Gary Jones.

"He was a great student and a great kid. He had a great smile, one that would make you feel good," he said.

Homan recently was approved to serve this year as a volunteer assistant for the Mini Cards basketball program, school superintendent Dr. Andrea Townsend said.

Homan worked at his family's business, Homan Interiors, on Tri Township Road, Jones said.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen.