United Group Insurance

(Update) Harlan man dies from injuries suffered during a fire Saturday afternoon

News

June 15th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

An elderly man died from injuries he suffered during a fire Saturday afternoon, in Harlan. Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen told KJAN News late Saturday night, 89-year old Bernard Wolfe, a long-time Harlan resident, was found trapped in the basement of his home at 1013 Durant Street, shortly after the fire was reported at around 4:15-p.m., Saturday. Bissen said rescue crews administered CPR on Wolfe, who was transported the Myrtue Medical Center, where he later died. Bissen said the fire started in the basement of the home, when a torch Wolfe was using apparently malfunctioned. Damage to the home was minimal, according to Bissen, and appeared to have been limited to the wiring. Firefighters from Harlan were assisted at the scene by crews from the Westphalia Fire Department, Medivac Ambulance, the Harlan Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.