2 found dead in East Toledo home after fire

Official says adult victims have not yet been identified

Firefighters knock down areas of a smoldering wall at 458 Fassett St. in East Toledo. The fire broke out Saturday and crews were called about 1:17 p.m., officials reported.

THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Firefighters knock down areas of a smoldering wall at 458 Fassett St. in East Toledo. The fire broke out Saturday and crews were called about 1:17 p.m., officials reported.

An East Toledo fire claimed the lives of two people Saturday, fire officials said.

Firefighters work on examining the remnants of two-story structure after a fire on Fassett Street. Crews found two bodies while fighting the blaze.

Many details about the fatal blaze at 458 Fassett St. near Dawson Street, as well as information on the victims were unavailable Saturday, as investigators were in the early stages of examining what happened.

Fire Lt. Matt Hertzfeld said that two adults died, but he said he couldn’t confirm their identities or a cause of death. A passer-by saw smoke coming out of the two-story residence about 1:17 p.m. and called 911.

Firefighters from the nearby Station 6 arrived quickly, and the flames were mostly knocked down in about 15 minutes, Lieutenant Hertzfeld said, although crews worked to put out hot spots for about an hour. Most of the first floor was consumed by flames, and the fire extended to parts of the second floor.

Crews discovered the two adults while fighting the “well-advanced fire,” Lieutenant Hertzfeld said.

Lieutenant Hertzfeld said he did not know when investigators would determine what caused the fire, and he said he did not know in what area of the house the victims were found.

Joe and Helen Rogowski own the house and two others on the same street, according to records from the Lucas County Auditor’s Office.

A neighbor outside watching fire crews battle the blaze said she was fearful the victims of the blaze were the owners of the East Toledo home.

“I have known Joe and Helen Rogowski for 36 years,” said Diana Gladieux, who lives on the same street as the burned home.

“Helen is bedridden and couldn’t even walk. but I don’t know if she was [in] there,” Ms. Gladieux said.

“They are old people, and they are good people. They keep to themselves and never bother anyone.”

No other homes were damaged by the fire, and Lieutenant Hertzfeld said crews did not plan to knock down the house because it posed no immediate danger.