21-Year-Old Man Killed in Clinton Township House Fire

A 21-year-old Clinton Township man was killed this morning when his Remick Drive home caught fire, authorities say.

Fire Chief John Shea identified the victim as Josh Luczak. Two of Luczak’s friends, who had stayed the night, were able to escape the blaze.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Shea said it did not seem suspicious.

“Our belief is the fire started in the room where the deceased was found,” Shea said. “We have just not been able to determine an exact cause.”

Fire crews responded to the house, located in the 21000 block of Remick at around 11:07 a.m.

Arriving approximately four minutes after the 911 call was made, Shea said much of the home was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived.

“We responded with four of our engines and when we got there, there was fire coming out of four windows,” Shea said. “The room where the victim was – it was totally engulfed in fire – not just a smoke situation, a floor-to-ceiling fire.”

The two friends who had stayed at the home awoke to severe smoke conditions.

“From talking to one young man, he started to the area of where the deceased was found but on his way something happened,” Shea said. “Probably a tremendous release of smoke and he himself was almost overcome.”

Both friends made several attempts to reach Luczak, but to no avail.

“They tried to do what they could to help their friend, but the fire was too severe,” Shea said.

Three pets are also believed to have been killed in the fire.

This is the second fatal fire to have occurred in Clinton Township this year. In January, disability rights advocate and author Loreena Minaudo, 59, died from injuries sustained when her home on Biland Drive caught fire.

Editor's Note: Earlier reports listed Luczak's age as 20. He was 21.