A tragic house fire in Wakeman, Huron County, claimed the lives of a mother and daughter on Saturday morning. Firefighters responded to the blaze around 8:15 a.m. at a home on Verlin Street, according to Wakeman Assistant Fire Chief Sean Eschen. By the time crews arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames.
Despite their efforts, authorities confirmed that the two victims, a mother and her daughter, died at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
Friends and family gathered at the site of the fire to mourn, including family friend Dawn Martin, who shared her grief. “I feel sick to my stomach right now. They were very loving and caring people,” Martin said, recalling fond memories of baking sourdough bread with one of the victims, who was known for sharing her homemade loaves with neighbors.
Martin also mentioned how close her son, Braden, was to one of the victim’s sons. Braden was supposed to spend the night at the house but stayed home due to illness. “He wasn’t feeling well, so he ended up sleeping in. I didn’t mention anything about going over,” she said, reflecting on how the night might have gone differently.
The fire was fought by a total of 40 firefighters from multiple local departments. The State Fire Marshal’s office has been called to investigate the cause, but it may take a few days before more information is available.
The Wakeman Fire Department expressed gratitude for the assistance from several local agencies, including Huron County Dispatch, the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, multiple fire departments, North Central EMS, and community members who brought food and water to support first responders on the scene.