Downed powerline blocked driveway for several minutes.
TROUT CREEK -- A house fire claimed the life of a Trout Creek man this morning.
Fire crews say flames were shooting out of Ron Nousainen's house when they arrived shortly after 7 a.m. The cause of the blaze hasn't been determined.
The Trout Creek Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Nousainen's residence, 7740 Old-M28, after the mail carrier spotted the fire and called 9-1-1.
A muddy, slush-filled driveway and downed powerline slowed crews from getting water on the fire right away.
"A tree fell over and knocked it down," said Trout Creek's Fire Chief, Pete Thompson. "It was across the driveway. We had to move that out of the way before we could even get hoses in there."
Caretakers told TV6, 60-year-old Nousianen had difficulty moving without assistance and was in a wheelchair.
Chief Thompson said the caretakers, who checked on Nousainen several times a day, hurried to his aide this morning. But it was too late.
"He has a hard time getting around; just barely by wheelchair," Thompson said. "They've been trying get him in a nursing home or something. He said maybe after the snow goes."
Trout Creek Volunteer Firefighters were assisted by the Bruce Crossing Volunteer Fire Department, SONCO EMS and the Michigan State Police, Wakefield Post.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC