Fire in Bangor claims three lives

BANGOR, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Investigators are looking into a fatal early morning fire.

That fire broke out at a house in the 100 block of North Center Street in Bangor and quickly got out of control. Fire crews were able to contain the fire, but not before lives were lost.

Tragedy struck one family and the small community of Bangor as three people died in the blaze.

"You could see smoke at the top, we got out here just as the fire truck pulled up and it was just smoke everywhere," said Richard Snyder, who saw the fire.

Snyder says he knew Dave and Cindy Hoaglin as well as their daughter Chelsea. As he awoke Thursday morning to the sight of flames at their house, he came to the grim realization that his friends and neighbors didn't make it.

"They slept upstairs and there was just no way to get their attention to get them out," said Snyder.

Snyder also lamented the fact that their son, Jestin Cease, who he says is serving overseas, will come home to tragedy.

"Their son is in Iraq right now, I don't know how to get a hold of him," said Snyder.

"We knew from reports from the neighbors that there was possibly people inside," said Bangor Fire Chief Derek Babcock. "We went straight to the front door, trying to keep the fire to the back of the house."

According to Babcock, all three family members perished in the fire.

The fire started in the back of the home sometime after 2:00 am Thursday and quickly engulfed the rear of the house. Some neighbors say they pounded on doors hoping to wake up the family, but it didn't work.

"You try to be a little more aggressive," said Chief Babcock, "we were very aggressive at first to get in there and try to find any occupants in the house."

Snyder said he suspects a wood stove may have been the cause of the blaze, but was unsure. Both he and fire officials said they didn't know if the home had working smoke detectors.

Snyder said he knows the firefighters did all they could, and is aware that there was little that could have been done.

"We're going to miss them," said Snyder, "they were good people."

Chief Babcock said the State Fire Marshal will be out on the scene Friday to investigate the fire, and would not say what caused the fire.