By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
PLAINWELL—A residential fire in Plainwell on Saturday evening resulted in one fatality, according to officials with the Plainwell Department of Public Safety.
The victim was later identified as 58-year-old Ted Ray Hughes, Jr.
The fire was reported at approximately 8:25 p.m. March 28, in the 400 block of North Main Street after an off-duty firefighter with the Martin Fire Department observed smoke and flames coming from a residence and radioed the information to dispatch.
A Plainwell Department of Public Safety officer arrived on scene within seconds, according to Director of Public Safety Kevin Callahan, and reported heavy black smoke coming from the front of the home. visible fire in multiple rooms on the north side of the structure were also reported.
Due to the severity of the fire, mutual aid was requested from the Gun Plain Fire Department, Martin Township Fire Department and Otsego Fire Department.
Within approximately two minutes, a fire attack crew entered the residence to begin suppression efforts. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke conditions throughout the home, with a rear bedroom and its contents fully involved in flames.
After several minutes on scene, firefighters received information indicating a possible victim inside the residence. A second crew entered the home under heavy smoke and fire conditions and located Hughes.
Hughes was removed from the structure and transferred to a waiting ambulance, where the individual was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and secure the scene. No other injuries were reported.
Agencies assisting at the scene included the Gun Plain Fire Department, Otsego Fire Department, Martin Township Fire Department, Life EMS, Plainwell EMS, Michigan State Police Wayland Post, Otsego Police Department, the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit and Allegan County Central Dispatch.
The fire remains under investigation by the Plainwell Department of Public Safety and the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Plainwell Department of Public Safety at (269) 685-9858 or Allegan County Central Dispatch at (269) 673-3899.
Saturday’s incident marks the fourth residential fire in Plainwell since December.
Previous fires occurred in the 100 block of South Sherwood Avenue in December, the 400 block of South Main Street in early March and the 900 block of Second Division Street later that same month, according to Callahan.
Those fires promptly Callahan to release a public service announcement on March 4, reminding Plainwell residents of the importance of working smoke detectors and basic fire safety equipment.
