Napoleon Fire and Rescue was dispatched Thursday evening, January 11th, 2024, at 9:03 p.m. for a reported structure fire in the basement of the above residence. Upon arrival of Napoleon Police Department, the caller stated that she believed there to be a subject still in the residence. PD units reported no visible flames or smoke in the residence and proceeded to search for occupants. Prior to the arrival of Engine 811 PD units located an adult male in a basement bathroom and reported to arriving crews that he appeared to be deceased. Crews entered the home and confirmed that there was a deceased adult male in the basement bathroom. Immediate contact was made with the Henry County Coroner’s Office as well as the Ohio State Fire Marshall’s Office Bureau of Investigations. No active fire was noted by fire department personnel, but there was evidence of extreme fire and smoke conditions in the basement and extreme smoke conditions on the first floor. All automatic and mutual aid was canceled. Napoleon Fire Department personnel remained on scene until the arrival of the Coroner’s Office and the Investigator from the State Fire Marshall’s Office. At the time of this press release the cause of the fire is under investigation. Smoke detectors were present in the home and were activated. The name of the deceased male will not be released until proper notification can be made to next of kin. The ongoing investigation is being handled by the City of Napoleon Fire Department, the City of Napoleon Police Department, the State of Ohio Fire Marshall’s Office, along with the Henry County Coroner’s Office. The basement sustained extensive fire, smoke, and water damage and the entirety of the home sustained moderate smoke damage. No loss value has been determined at time of press release. Also assisting on scene was City of Napoleon Electric Department, City of Napoleon Operations Department, and The Ohio Gas Company. Any questions can be directed to the office of the City of Napoleon Fire Chief.
****