Investigation of fatal fire continues; had been owner’s parents

BRANCH TWP. — Madonna Schulz was very tired and very saddened this morning over the death of Doug Hill and the loss of the house she grew up in. Hill, 63, died in the fire at 5825 E. Hansen Road. He was renting the house from Schulz who lives next door at 5895 E. Hansen Road. Firefighters were called to the scene at 2:30 a.m.

Schulz said her parents moved into the house in 1963. She said she had known Hill since she was 5-years-old, he was renting the house from her. Schulz’s two dogs also died in the fire.

Branch, Custer and Fountain fire departments responded to the fire along with Mason County Sheriff’s Office and Life EMS.

Branch Fire Dept. was called back out this afternoon to extinguish some smoke coming from the remains of the house, which was completely destroyed from the fire.

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office, in a press release, said the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Story and photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief