'No Evidence' Logansport House Fire Set Intentionally: ISP

LOGANSPORT, IN — The Indiana State Police said investigators have completed inspecting the destruction of a Logansport home that caught fire early Wednesday morning, just hours after the names of the six people killed in the flames were released. According to ISP, there isn't evidence that indicates the fire was set intentionally, which several reports considered Wednesday. However, while major appliances have been ruled out as the source of the cause, ISP said some evidence indicates the flames could have been caused by an electrical issue, which hasn't been determined due to the destruction.

ISP said during the search of the home, located at 4317 Pottawatomie Point Road, firefighters recovered six bodies; two adults and four children. There were no working smoke detectors inside the home, according to officials.

The Cass County Coroner's Office identified the deceased adults as Joseph Huddleston 42, and Brandi Vail, 25, according to a release. The children are three young girls and a male infant; Kadee Huddleston, 10, Swayzee Hite, 3, Rhylie Hite, 1, and three-month-old Marshall Hite.

According to ISP, the youngest kids are the children of Vail, Kadee Huddleston is the daughter of Huddleston, and Vail is the step daughter of Huddleston.

Officials said the two adults that escaped the fire were Shelia Huddleston, 43, and Brandon Huddleston, 19. Shelia is Joseph Huddleston’s wife and Brandon is his son. The pair was taken to Logansport Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to a release, the 911 call to the Cass County Dispatch Center reporting the burning home came in at 1:49 a.m. Wednesday, with the caller reporting people were possibly trapped inside.

Logansport Indiana Fire: Flames Engulf Cass County House (PHOTOS)

Two Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies were the first to arrive and found the two-story house engulfed in flames and intense smoke, prohibiting them to reach those inside despite their attempts, officials said.

ISP said multiple fire departments arrived at the scene to battle the fire despite cold temperatures, and lack of access to water at the scene. Firefighters had to truck in water from a Logansport hydrant when their tanker trucks ran dry.

Related: 4 Kids, 2 Others Killed In possibly 'Intentional' Logansport Fire

After the fire was extinguished, fire personnel began the pain staking task of combing through the burnt-out home looking for those killed in the fire.

ISP said one of the sheriff's deputies suffered from smoke inhalation, but refused medical treatment at the scene.

The Indiana State Police said the Cass County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation.

Patch will continue updating this story as information comes in.

This view of the Logansport house shows just how much fire spread. (Mitchell Kirk/The Kokomo Tribune via AP)