LOGANSPORT, Ind. (WLFI) — One man died Tuesday night after a house caught fire in the 400 block of West Market Street.
The fire happened around 9:35 p.m.
Investigators say a 76-year-old man was found face down in the upstairs bathroom. They say he later died from smoke inhalation.
His 72-year-old wife escaped the home and was treated and released at a nearby hospital.
Nearby Neighbor Corey Tabbs says he saw flames coming out of the top floor of the home Tuesday night. Tabbs says he's known the couple for a long time.
"It couldn't have happened to a more delightful and good people and it's sad," he says.
Investigators say the fire started in the front room of the house. The cause is undetermined but arson has been ruled out.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims.
Logansport Fire Chief Rick Bair says the death is the first since a string of fatal house fires in Cass county in 2018 that left at least eight people dead. That's according to a previous report by News 18.
That's when the fire department began canvassing neighborhoods to check and install smoke detectors. Bair is urging residents to use smoke detectors and check them often.
"It's proven," he says. "We've seen it here that we don't want to have a repeat of 2018, so we will do whatever we can to provide them detectors or assist the public with them."
Bair says smoke detectors would likely have saved the man's life. He says anyone who would like assistance from the fire department should call 574-753-3102.
