Firefighters were called at about 7:15 a.m. Nov. 20 for the fire at Schlenk’s residence in the 400 block of Hooven Avenue in the city’s Lindenwald neighborhood.
Hamilton Fire Chief Mark Mercer said firefighters were told the house would be unoccupied because Schlenk had usually left for work before that time.
“We found out that he indeed never did go to work,” Mercer said.
He was found dead inside the house.
“A very sad situation. Our guys worked very hard to put the fire out and … believed the house was unoccupied,” Mercer said.
Mercer said the fire may have been smoldering before breaking into flames.
Hamilton fire investigator Trevor Snider investigated the scene, but the cause will remain undetermined. It is considered accidental, the chief said.
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