Woman, 82, dies in Saturday fire
By Lee Williams
Published in News on March 4, 2007 2:03 AM
FREMONT -- An 82-year-old woman was killed in a house fire that destroyed her small wood frame home on Napoleon Road Saturday.
Justine D. Coley was at home alone when the blaze broke out at 413 Napoleon Road. A witness saw smoke coming from the residence and called the fire department, officials said.
Firefighters from Fremont, Eureka and Faro volunteer fire departments and the Wayne County sheriff's deputies responded to the fire at about 1:45 p.m. Upon arrival, they found the house consumed by flames and burned to the ground.
"It was pretty much gone when we got there," Fremont Volunteer Fire Chief Danny Tillman said. "The way the wind was blowing, it didn't take much. It was an old farmhouse."
Debris from the fire jumped 20 acres and started a woods fire, Tillman said. Eureka and Faro firefighters fought the woods fire, while Fremont battled the house fire. No other homes were damaged.
Ms. Coley's body was found in the kitchen area, Tillman said.
Ms. Coley lived in the home with two other family members. They were not at home when the fire began, he said.
Sheriff's investigators and State Bureau of Investigations detectives combed the charred debris for clues for about six hours to determine a cause, but to no avail.
"At this point, we don't suspect any foul play," Wayne County Sheriff's Capt. George Raecher said.