Firefighters battled a deadly fire in the 600 block of South Main Street in Knox yesterday.
In a press release from Knox-Center Township Fire Department Fire Chief Kenny Pfost, firefighters were dispatched to a garage fire at the location. Pfost stated, firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the two-story garage. He stated they also found a male victim outside of the garage, severely burned.
Chief Pfost said, firefighters began extinguishing the fire and treating the victim while waiting for EMS to arrive. He stated once EMS arrived, the victim was transported to Northwest Health-Starke Hospital where he was then flown to the University of Chicago Medical Center and later succumbed to his injuries.
Pfost said it took over an hour before the fire was brought under control. The State of Indiana Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. The Knox-Center Township Fire Department was also assisted by the Hamlet-Davis Township Fire Territory, North Judson-Wayne Township, Washington Township, Bass Lake-California Township, and Koontz Lake-Oregon Township fire departments, as well as Starke County EMS, Knox Police Department, Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Starke County Emergency Management, Knox Water Department, and the American Red Cross.
Pfost stated, at this time the origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation.
