Fatal Fire Overnight In Calumet Township
Around 2:30 AM on January 2, 2022 Lake Ridge Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on a two story residence in the 1500 block of East Elm Street, according to Lake Ridge Fire Chief Mike Redd.
On arrival crews encountered a fully involved house fire. Police officers on scene advised firefighters a male and female were both outside the home but the male went back into the house to find their dog in the basement. The male never made it back out the house before firefighters arrived.
Crews from multiple departments fought the fire through the morning as the entire structure collapsed. No firefighters were injured, Redd told RNS. Excavation equipment from P&C Trucking was brought in during the daylight hours to begin a recovery effort which lasted till around noon Sunday when firefighters recovered the male. The male was identified as Duane Trosper, 55, The Lake County Coroners Office stated.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation with the State Fire Marshal. Lake Ridge Fire was assisted by Griffith, Highland, Lake Hills, Merrillville, and Gary.
