fatal house fire in wolf lake

01/17/07

A house fire early Wednesday morning, January 17, took the life of a resident.

Firefighters from the Noble Township Fire Department were dispatched to a report of a house fire at 0799 S. 375 W. Wolf Lake early Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. with one of the residents still inside.

Noble Twp. Fire Chief, Rob Davis, arrived on scene and the two-story home was already well involved and help was called for from Albion and Thorncreek Fire Departments.

According to police, 73 year-old Ralph Wiedman may have been overcome by smoke after he re-entered his home to retrieve keys to a pair of antique vehicles.

Chief Davis and Sheriff’s deputies tried to gain entry through the front door calling repeatedly for Wiedman but were turned away by smoke. The fire spread quickly through the home collapsing the first and second story roofs.

The Cromwell and Churubusco Departments were dispatched at 3:30 a.m. to provide manpower at the scene. The Engine crew from Churubusco was assigned to do a secondary search of the first floor. Minutes after their entry they located Wiedman in a living room at the front of the house, but it was too late.

Wiedman’s wife told authorities she had been roused by a barking dog and heard a smoke detector going off. She got her husband up and they left the residence calling emergency responders.

Shortly after, Mr. Wiedman re-entered the home and was unable to make it out.

Firefighters were able to battle the blaze on the first floor from inside but were cut off from the second story after the roof collapsed. Ground ladders were used from the exterior of the home to reach the second story blaze and bring the fire under control. Departments from Columbia Twp. and Kendallville were called to the scene with manpower to rotate crews as they battled cold temperatures as well.

The State Fire Marshal’s office ruled the fire accidental. A space heater at the rear of the home was the cause of the fire, igniting a carpet on fire. Churubusco firefighters remained on the scene dousing hot spots until they were released by Noble Twp. at 7:30 a.m.

The incident was investigated by the Noble County Sheriff’s Department, Noble County Coroner’s Office and the State Fire Marshal.

*Photo and story contributed by Churubusco News