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  • Flames engulf a Kalkaska Township home on North Circle Drive off U.S. 131 on Friday. Special to the Record-Eagle/Joanie Moore

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February 11, 2012

Disabled man killed in blaze

Kalkaska fire chief: 'There was too much smoke and fire'

BY BRIAN McGILLIVARY bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com

KALKASKA — Heavy smoke and flames rebuffed attempts by family, neighbors, police and fire officials to rescue a disabled man stranded in his Kalkaska Township home.

A fire that erupted Friday morning claimed the life of Dan Lee Harmon. He died eight days short of his 56th birthday.

"We tried to get in, myself and the undersheriff and even some neighbors, but there was too much smoke and fire," said Kalkaska Township Fire Chief Derek Hogerheide.

The fire started shortly before noon, possibly in the kitchen of Harmon's mobile home in Arbutus Woods subdivision off U.S. 131 north of Kalkaska. Harmon's wife Deborah and their daughter were at work on a vehicle in an attached garage when they noticed smoke, but weren't able to enter the house, Hogerheide said.

Hogerheide and Kalkaska Undersheriff Abe Devol arrived before fire trucks, but also couldn't enter and the home quickly was engulfed in smoke and flames.

Harmon was ill and in bed when the fire ignited. He was unable to get out of bed on his own, Sheriff David Israel said.

Authorities found his body about 3:30 p.m. on the bedroom floor.

"We're all saddened; it's such a tragedy," said Brenda Vowels, who worked with Deborah Harmon at Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources. "Our prayers certainly go out to the whole family."

A state fire marshal will investigate, with help from township fire and sheriff's officials. It's not yet known what started the fire, Israel said.

Dan Harmon was a former business owner until severe diabetes claimed one foot and most of another, said Ron Gay, president of the board at Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources.

"He was a very nice man, and I know that Deb and Dan were very close to each other and Deb considered him her very best friend," Gay said. "Dan was a fine man, and our hearts are saddened over the situation."

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