ALGER — The body of a man believed to have been entrapped in his burning home west of Alger has been found.
Investigators from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardin County Fire and Explosion Investigation Team, Alger Fire Department and Bureau Criminal Investigation and Identification located the remains of Hugh Ries on Monday afternoon after they searched his burned out home west of Alger. (TIMES PHOTO/DAN ROBINSON)
According to a press release from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, the body of Hugh Ries, 65, was discovered at approximately 2:15 p.m. Monday in a crawl space beneath rubble of the collapsed kitchen at 0529 CR 80.
Hardin County 9-1-1 dispatch received a report at 4:21 p.m. Sunday of a fire and possible entrapment at the Alger address. Ries was the only person known to be at home at the time.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardin County Fire and Explosion Investigation Team along with Ohio BCI&I are assisting the Alger Fire Department in the investigation.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and continues under investigation.
In addition to the number of fire and EMS units identified earlier, the investigation also has been aided by the Hardin County Crime Task Force, Ohio Highway Patrol aircraft, Hardin County Coroner’s Office, Hardin County Sheriff’s Volunteers in Police Service and Osborn’s Towing.