SUNRISE BEACH, MO. (THECOUNT) — Joseph Anthony Menzel of Sunrise Beach, has been identified as the victim killed a Range Lane, Sunrise Beach, MO, house fire.
“Joe” Menzel, 52, died Wednesday afternoon after suffering respiratory injuries in the blaze. Matters were complicated for firefighters by working the blaze during daytime high temperatures and after they could not locate an available fireplug, officials said.
|
Advertisement |
The Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District responded to the call within six minutes, but when rescue crews arrived at the house on Range Lane, the single-family home was already in flames. Fire crews said the house was located down a long driveway, and there was no fire hydrant readily available. The fire chief said the heat and busyness of the holiday made their job much more difficult. source
“The heat definitely made our job tougher. Yesterday was one of the hottest days of the summer, and we needed to bring back off-duty personnel,” said Chief Dennis Reilly in a press release.
Officials said they are still investigating what caused the fire, but they think it was accidental.
Friends and family took to Facebook to mourn the beloved man’s passing: