Two survive, one of those saved by an HPD officer
A Henderson man died in a late Sunday night fire at his Millcreek Drive home while two family members escaped the blaze—with one of those saved by a Henderson Police Department officer.
The deceased is Joseph Hein, 73, according to the Henderson County Coroner’s Office, which said Hein’s body is scheduled to be taken to Louisville for an autopsy on Tuesday.
Survivors are Joseph Hein’s wife, Debbie, and grandson, Kevin Hein, according to the Henderson Office of Emergency Management which is assisting them with finding resources and a place to stay.
An HPD release said that police officers arrived at 996 Millcreek Drive quickly after an 11:45 p.m. dispatch, and after learning that three people were inside at the scene, “one of our officers was able to break a window on the front of the house, gain entry, and successfully bring one occupant out the rear of the home to safety.”
HPD Sgt. Bill Russell said the officer broke in through the front window and found Debbie Hein, but then had to bring her to safety out the back of the house because fire now blocked the front.
“He couldn’t get her to the front because of the fire,” he said.
Additionally, HPD “was able to escort a second occupant (Kevin Hein) to safety as well.” Russell said that occurred after Kevin Hein was outside of the house.
Russell said the Henderson Fire Department arrived at that point and began knocking down the blaze so that they could enter.
When they were able to get inside, they found that Joseph Hein was deceased, said HFD Chief Josh Dixon.
HPD was not releasing the name of the officer that rushed into the home because he had not been asked if he wanted his name mentioned, Russell said, adding the officer off-shift and resting at home early Monday afternoon.
After the officer was able to save the woman from her home, HPD moved her and the son away from the scene and set up a perimeter, Russell said.
The state fire marshal’s office is investigating the fire. HFD Division Chief Matt Anderson said the cause had not yet been determined.
Fire crews returned to the scene about 11: 40 a.m. Monday morning after a television news crew called in about smoke visible coming from a hole near the roof. Anderson described it as an ember on a ridge beam near the roof. A fire crew sprayed the area.