Devastating Macomb County house fire kills 68-year-old man, officials believe space heater to blame

CLINTON TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - Officials suspect overnight fire in Macomb County that destroyed a home and killed a 69-year-old resident may have been started by a space heater.

WWJ's Charlie Langton reported live from the scene of a devastated home in the 21000 block of Vermander Avenue, in the area of 15 Mile and Little Mack, in Clinton Township where police say a fire broke out just before midnight on December 11th.

Flames were jumping up through the home by the time fire officials arrived. Dispatch reportedly informed crews that a possibly disabled person was stuck inside the home.

Unconfirmed reports state firefighters went inside to find the missing resident, who was discovered deceased.

"Police saying now that there's nothing suspicious in a house fire that took the life of 68-year-old John, who lived alone," Langton reported.

Neighbors stopped by to leave cards and flowers on the property, in memory of John. Others, like Bruce Thomas, stopped by to reflect on the loss.

"[John} was a good dude. He was very good around here... always humble," Thomas told Langton, "He just kind of never had nothing, but still had a smile on his face."

The actual cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time, but police told Langton that the 68-year-old was using a space heater.

"That's the early report of the cause of this fatal house fire," Langton added.