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The Fairmont Fire Department and Fairmont Police Department responded to a fatal structure fire in the 400 block of Montgomery Avenue on Wednesday.
Emergency crews were dispatched at 2:09 p.m. following reports of a heavy fire at a residence with a trapped occupant. Firefighters arrived within minutes, initiated an interior search, and located an adult male occupant. Crews removed the individual from the building to begin lifesaving measures alongside the Marion County Rescue Squad. Despite the medical attention, the 35-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
An adult female and two young children were alerted to the fire by barking dogs and escaped through windows. They received treatment for minor injuries. Two dogs died in the fire, and the home is a total loss.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries during search efforts; both were evaluated and returned to duty.
Fire crews brought the fire under control at 2:47 p.m. and returned later in the evening to extinguish a minor rekindle.
The incident remains under joint investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Fairmont Police Department detectives. Preliminary investigations point toward the cause of the blaze being accidental.