Man, 47, dies in Warren Twp. fire

LEAVITTSBURG — Chris Hyler, 47, died early Friday in a house fire at 719 Gillmer Road in Warren Township.

The state fire marshal’s office said there was no indication that the 4:44 a.m. fire was intentionally set.

Warren Township Fire Chief Kenneth Schick said the fire started in the living room, but its cause is undetermined. The fire marshal’s office, Trumbull County Fire Investigation Unit and the Trumbull County Coroner’s office are continuing their investigation.

A newspaper carrier noticed the fire and reported it to a neighbor, who called 911, Schick said.

When firefighters arrived, a police officer alerted them that someone was inside, so they fought through smoke to get to the second-floor bedroom area and found Hyler partly under a bed as if he had tried to go there to avoid the smoke, Schick said.

Hyler was dead at the scene.

The house sustained substantial smoke and water damage, but the fire was contained to the living room and kitchen area, Schick said.

Firefighters from the Champion and Braceville fire departments assisted Warren Township firefighters.

The house had a working fire alarm, though it was no longer sounding when firefighters arrived.

The state fire marshal’s office reports there were five fire fatalities in Ohio overnight Thursday and Friday, with three of them coming from a fire in Dayton, bringing the 2009 total to 117. There were 187 fire fatalities in Ohio in 2008.