LODI, Ohio — One person was killed in a house fire in Lodi on Christmas Day.
The Lodi Fire Department says that it was dispatched to a residential structure located at 8504 Lafayette Road after a passerby stated that there was fire coming out of the windows at the rear of the residence on the second floor and roof. The passerby banged on the door of the residence to alert the occupants and could hear a TV on in the house, but no one answered.
After arriving on scene, members of the Lodi Fire Department, Medina County Sheriff officers and Lodi Police located heavy fire on the second floor of the residence. The first on-scene information stated that there were possibly two people inside the structure, including a resident and an out-of-state visitor.
Following an immediate search of the first floor and bathroom, crews attempted to enter the second floor, where they were met with heavy fire and cluttered rooms. After the fire was knocked down, crews attempted to enter every room on the second floor of the residence. After an extensive search, a deceased victim was found in the second-floor room where the passerby noticed the fire coming from. The second potential victim was searched for not and not found, with Medina Sheriff detectives later notifying the fire department that the person was found alive still in their residence in a different state.
Identification of the victim is pending from the Medina County Coroner's office. The cause of the fire remains undetermined and is being investigated by the Ohio State Fire Marshal's fire investigation unit.
