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6 Killed in House Fire in Rural Indiana, Officials Say 6 Killed in House Fire in Rural Indiana, Officials Say
(about 20 hours later)
Six people were left dead in a fire that destroyed a family home in rural Indiana early Saturday morning, officials said. Six people, including children, were killed in a fire that destroyed a family home in rural Indiana early Saturday morning, officials said.
Investigators have not yet positively identified the victims of the fatal blaze, Sgt. Stephen Wheeles of the Indiana State Police said on Twitter. Investigators have not yet positively identified the victims, Sgt. Stephen Wheeles of the Indiana State Police said on Sunday.
The fire was reported at 3:40 a.m. and may have started on the porch of the house, a two-story family residence in the small town of Vevay, according to David Hosick, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which includes the state fire marshal’s office. “We believe there were kids involved,” Sergeant Wheeles said. “As far as saying certain ages, it’s too early to say that.”
By the time firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames, he said. The victims have not been publicly identified. The fire happened in Vevay, a rural town on the Ohio River, about 100 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
“The cause of the fire is still unknown,” Mr. Hosick said. “There is no foul play suspected at this time, based on what we know.” The fire was reported shortly after 3 a.m. and might have started on the porch of the two-story family house, said David Hosick, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which includes the State Fire Marshal.
The house, on Lewis Drive, belongs to a family, but Mr. Hosick said officials did not know who was home at the time. By the time firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed, he said. A man, who had been visiting the house, was able to escape without any injuries. His identity was not released.
“It is still too early to say,” he said. “He is going through a lot and being the lone survivor of something like this, you have to be careful that he is not overwhelmed with people reaching out to him,” Sergeant Wheeles said.
Vevay, a rural town on the Ohio River, is about 100 miles southeast of Indianapolis. The cause of the fire remained under investigation, but the authorities said that there was no indication that it was intentionally set or that foul play was involved.
Mr. Hosick said the last fire in the state he could remember of such a magnitude was in 2018, when six family members were killed in Logansport after a fire ignited in their home. Four children died in the blaze, which was ruled accidental. The house, on Lewis Drive, belonged to a family, but Mr. Hosick said officials did not know who was home at the time.
“That was very traumatic to the community,” he said. Josh South, who said he was a close friend of the family and who started a GoFundMe fund-raiser to help the family with expenses, declined to comment about the family for privacy reasons.
“Once the family has decided, they will release any info related to the this horrific tragedy,” he said in a Facebook message on Sunday.
Mr. Hosick said the last fire in the state he could remember of such a magnitude was in 2018, when six family members were killed in their home in Logansport. Four children died in the blaze, which was ruled accidental.
Mr. Hosick said the fire in Vevay was “going to hit these folks hard.”Mr. Hosick said the fire in Vevay was “going to hit these folks hard.”
Aimee Ortiz contributed reporting. Sargeant Wheeles said, “When you have that many people from one family group or one friend group perish in a fire, that is devastating.”
“We have fire personnel and police that responded who are having to deal with the aftermath,” he said. “It’s a rough situation all around.”
Johnny Diaz and Aimee Ortiz contributed reporting.