QUINCY, MI (WTVB) – A 3-year old girl is dead despite the rescue efforts of two Branch County Sheriff’s Department deputies to save the child from a Wednesday fire that gutted the victim’s Amish farmhouse in Butler Township. Deputies Steve Foster and Al Fleming were dispatched around 10:45 a.m. yesterday to the residence at 1140 Crandell Road to provide traffic control for a reported house fire and while on the way, they were told of someone still trapped inside the 2-story structure. When they arrived, the deputies found the west side of the residence engulfed in flames and family members were still trying to enter the kitchen area to locate the 3-year old.
Foster and Fleming were pushed back by smoke and flames so they went to the east side of the house and entered through a door off the living room. Following another quick search though, they were again forced out by the growing flames. After battling the blaze for nearly 90 minutes, firefighters were able to locate the child’s body in the kitchen area.
Litchfield firemen were first on scene and they were assisted by the Allen Township, Quincy, Homer, and Hillsdale City fire departments. Branch County Victim Services unit was called out to assist the family.
State Fire Marshall investigators were at the scene Wednesday afternoon but as of right now, there is no word on a cause for the fire.
