Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024
1 person killed in late-night inferno
Identity of victim remains unknown
By Leslie Klosterman
MONTEZUMA - One person was killed and their residence was deemed a total loss after a fire at Hecht's Landing on Tuesday night.
The fire located in the 8500 block of Behm's Road was reported at 8:57 p.m., according to Montezuma Fire Chief Lee Braun. A 20-by-10-foot building that was converted into living quarters was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, he said.
Approximately 35 firefighters and nine trucks from the Montezuma, Coldwater and St. Marys Township fire departments responded to the fire, which Braun estimated was under control within 15-20 minutes.
Firefighters initially had to take a defensive approach to the blaze, working to douse the fire while preventing it from spreading further to a nearby residence, he said. The neighboring residence had damage to the siding.
Once the fire was under control, Braun said firefighters began to pull the collapsed roof off of the building and initiate search efforts.
The lone occupant, believed to be a woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. Braun emphasized the fire and fatality are still under investigation.
The State Fire Marshall's Office has been contacted and will aid in the investigation. Braun said foul play is not suspected.
"I'm happy with the response ... and with what all the firefighters did," he said. "All the departments worked together great. (Fatalities are) never easy on anybody."
