Person found dead in Hamilton house fire

A person was found dead Sunday night in a Hamilton house fire.

Hamilton firefighters were dispatched about 10 p.m. to a structure fire in the 1200 block of Vanderveer Avenue. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire, but the person was found dead on the first floor of the house, according to Hamilton Fire Chief Mark Mercer.

Fire crews and the Butler County Coroner’s Office investigator wee back at the scene Monday morning cutting the structure open to remove the victim, which is believed to be a man, according to Mercer.

“Since there was significant damage to the building from the fire last night, it wasn’t safe to try to remove the victim from the building. There was a lot of damage to the floors,” the chief said.

Mercer said the the fire had also spread to the basement.

“It was apparent that he was deceased,” Mercer said. But the cause and origin of the fire was not obvious and is under investigation. “They (firefighters) found him pretty quickly after entering the building.”

Mercer said the investigation will be ongoing.

On Sunday night, a passerby called 911 reporting smoke. It is believed there were no other occupants in the house that may have escaped.

Fairfield Twp. and Ross Twp. provided mutual aid for the fire, and there were no injuries to firefighters.