GALION, Ohio — A house fire early Tuesday morning left two people dead, including a member of the family who owns Galion’s oldest business.
At 12:58 a.m., the Galion Fire Department was dispatched to the home at 561 Laughbaum Drive. Upon arrival, crews found a two-story home with heavy fire involvement on the second story. Investigators discovered the bodies of a 78-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman in an upstairs bedroom.
According to Crawford County Coroner Dr. Michael Johnson, the victims were identified as Charles “Phil” Longstreth of Longstreth Memorials and Elisa Beth Mitchell. Johnson said the bodies were sent to the Lucas County Coroner’s Office for autopsies and results would likely be available later Tuesday or Wednesday.
Longstreth worked at the Mansfield location of the family business.
Officials said they believe the fire started in an upstairs bedroom, but they are still working to determine the exact cause of the blaze due to the extensive damage.
Fire officials said there were no smoke detectors in the home.
Bucyrus and Crestline Fire Departments provided mutual aid, as did Galion Police Department, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Crawford County Red Cross.
The Crawford County Coroner and the State of Ohio Fire Marshalls Office were called in to assist with the investigation.
