A house fire claimed the life of a resident in the Bloomington area early yesterday morning. The fire was reported at approximately 1:15 a.m. in the 5100 block of South Fairfax Road, just outside the Bloomington city limits, as per reports from FOX59.
Upon arrival, the Monroe Fire Protection District discovered heavy smoke emanating from the front of the dwelling. Witnesses had reportedly attempted to alert the occupant by knocking on doors, and windows but received no response. Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputies informed the firefighters of an older individual, who seldom left the house, was believed to reside there. Despite the challenges of thick smoke and zero visibility, firefighters located an unresponsive victim in the kitchen area, according to a Herald Times Online report.
The victim was immediately transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending confirmation by the Monroe County Coroner's Office post-autopsy. Further searches of the home verified that no other individuals were present at the time of the fire. The fire, which caused significant damage, prompted a response from multiple agencies, including a fire truck from the City of Bloomington.
The Monroe Fire Protection District stated that "The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental due to discarded smoking material." This assessment was supported by the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office. "Our thoughts go out to the family of the victim for their loss," expressed the Fire Protection District in a sentiment echoed by both FOX59 and WTHR-TV.
