State Fire Marshal's report closed

NORWALK — The State Fire Marshal's case is closed on the fire this summer at 117 E. Main St. that took the life of 8-year-old Wyatt Duchette. But the case in Norwalk is far from over. The death of Duchette is now being investigated as a criminal matter, police say. Duchette was killed in a house fire on June 7. His step-brother Paxton was also seriously injured in the blaze. Police now say a pipe was found in the house at the time of the fire. The pipe tested positive for methamphetamines, according to Norwalk Police Assistant Chief Michael Biller. Investigators are trying to determine if the pipe was the cause of the fire, or if it was just found near the source of the fire, Biller said. Norwalk Police Detective Scott Hamernik is now investigating the fire along with the state fire marshal's office, Biller said. After the fire, relatives of Wyatt Duchette created and distributed yard signs that say "Justice for Wyatt." The implication from some family members was that they didn't believe the fire to be an accident. Here is the official report from Frank Reitmeier of the State Fire Marshal's Office: Supplement On 2023/06/07 at 15:25 hours Assistant Chief Raymond McCarthy, SFM/FEIB requested I respond to the listed location to assist in the investigation of an occupied structure fire that resulted in one juvenile fatality and at least one juvenile and one adult injury. Investigator Jeff Koehn, SFM/FEIB was also assigned to the incident. While enroute to the fire scene I was contacted by Dr. Jeffery Harwood, Huron County Coroner. He advised me that the deceased juvenile would be transported to Evans Funeral Home before being transported to the Lucas County Coroner's Office for Autopsy if it became necessary to view the body. Upon arrival to the fire scene contact was made with Investigator (Jeffry) Koehn and members of the Norwalk Fire Department and Police Department. After being briefed on the incident I traveled to the Fisher-Titus Medical Center Emergency Department to attempt to interview witnesses and occupants from the incident. Upon arrival to the Medical Center, it was learned that the victims and family members had already left for a hospital in Akron, Ohio where one of the juveniles were being transferred by medical helicopter. Upon returning to the fire scene, I assisted in the fire scene examination and documentation. The results of the examination will be documented in Investigator Koehn's report. Background On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, Assistant Chief McCarthy assigned me and Investigator Reitmeier to respond to a fatal fire investigation, at 117 E. Main St. Unit B in the City of Norwalk, Huron County, State of Ohio. Lt. (Aaron) Lynch from the Norwalk Fire Department Fire Department made the request. Lt. Lynch requested assistance from our office for a fire that occurred in a Multi-Family Dwelling on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 14:45. One of the juvenile occupants died in the fire and two other juveniles were injured. A neighbor, the juvenile's mother, and two Norwalk Police Officers were also injured in the fire. I arrived on the scene and met with Lt. Lynch and Captain Brett Beers, who informed me, crews responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a fire in an occupied duplex. Fire crews arrived to find smoke and fire self-venting from the first-floor south and west windows. Neighbors and passersby were in the yard, street, and across the street telling firefighters that at least one juvenile occupant was still inside the home. Initial reports were the juvenile was on the second floor but firefighters found the male deceased in the first-floor living room. The injured were transported to Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk and one of the victims was flown to the Akron Children's Burn Center in Akron, Ohio. The scene was secured prior to my arrival and the deceased victim was taken to the Huron County Morgue and transported to Lucas County Medical Examiner's Office for the Autopsy. INCIDENT REPORT Author, Jeffry KoehnThis fire originated in the interior first-floor living room of the structure. The specific area of origin for this fire was the upholstered couch located on the east living room wall. Based on the extensive fire damage to the living room, I was able to determine the fire originated on the east side of the living room. The following methodology was used to determine the area of origin. The fire occurred in a two-story wood-framed, occupied duplex. For purposes of this report, the front of the structure faces south and moves in a clockwise direction, the sides of the structure are denoted as west, north, and east toward Main Street. The fire occurred on the west side of the building which is one of the two occupancies of the structure. Exterior Exam This Investigator conducted an exterior and interior examination of the scene, utilizing a systematic approach. I began my investigation on the exterior, the south side of the structure, moving in a clockwise direction; each side was photographed, documented, and examined from the areas of least damage to the areas of greatest damage I observed the following: The exterior of the structure showed extensive fire damage to the windows on the south and west sides of the first floor where fire self-vented from the living room of the home. The south entry door shows similar fire damage where fire self-vented from the interior. The electric meter is located on the west side of the house and is connected and operational. The north side of the home shows smoke and heat damage to the windows of the kitchen and dining room. Fire damage to the exterior was caused by fire travel. The exterior was eliminated as the area of origin. Interior Exam After an initial walkthrough and safety survey of the interior, I entered the structure from the north door into the kitchen and found smoke and heat damage to the walls and surfaces. The appliances including the stove and refrigerator were not damaged by the fire. The damage to the kitchen was caused by fire travel These rooms were eliminated as the area of origin. The dining room showed smoke and heat damage where The fire traveled south to north from the living room. The contents show damage nearest to the dining room with intensity patterns along the entrance ceiling from the living room. The dining room damage was caused by fire travel and was eliminated as the area of origin. I continued to the living room and found extensive fire damage to all surfaces. Movement patterns along the east, west, and south walls show fire travel throughout the living room and ventilation-driven patterns to the south (front) windows where fire traveled out the windows when they failed. The juvenile male decedent was found on the west side of the living room floor near the window. Fire patterns to the walls, ceiling, floor, and contents show intensity patterns near the couch and east living room wall. Movement patterns from this area show fire traveling in all directions. Fire patterns in the living room show movement from the couch outward in all directions. Intensity patterns to the remains of the couch, floor, and wall around the couch show extensive fire damage to the structural components of the couch. Several laptop computers and other electronic devices were found on the table in front of the couch and were damaged by the fire. These devices were not involved in the ignition of the fire. During the scene examination, a glass marijuana pipe was found in the cushion debris of the couch. Fire Pattern Analysis: The area of origin was the couch located on the east living room wall. Fire Growth and Development: The fire spread from the upholstered couch to other combustible materials within the living room. From the living room, the fire spread to adjoining rooms with smoke and heat traveling throughout the first and second floors. The windows in the living room failed allowing additional air flow into the structure. Arc Mapping/Electrical Considerations: On August 4, 2023, I met with Investigators Chris Posante of Donan Investigations and Brian Churchwell of Churchwell Consultants. We examined the scene and Brian examined the wiring of the home, electrical appliances, and computers in the area of origin. Brian confirmed that the electrical system and appliances were not involved in the ignition of this fire. The electrical system and appliances were eliminated as the heat source for this fire. Witness Observation: I met with Paxton Burke and his father Darren Burke on June 10, 2023, at the Akron Children's Hospital burn unit. Paxton stated that at the time of the fire, he and his brother Wyatt were in the second-floor bedroom playing. Paxton stated Wyatt told him he smelled smoke. Both boys then walked into the second-floor hallway to investigate. Paxton stated he then saw smoke coming from the first floor into the stairwell. He walked down the stairs to the first floor and saw flames near the area of the couch. Paxton stated he could feel the heat and was trying to find a way out. He heard the front window break and ran towards the window above the turtle tank in the southwest corner of the living room. He climbed over the turtle tank and was able to exit through the broken window. Paxton felt his clothing and body burning as he made his way out of the house. Paxton stated that before the fire, he was home alone with his mother while his siblings were with their biological father (Andrew Duchette). When Wyatt and Harley returned home, Wyatt and Paxton went upstairs to play while his mother (Dakota Jones) and sister Harley went to the bank. Paxton stated his mother and sister were not gone long when he saw the smoke. Paxton denied that he or his brother Wyatt were playing with matches or lighters before the fire. He also denied that he or his brother had ever played with matches or lighters in the past. Other occupants and witnesses were interviewed by the Norwalk Police Department. Cause Determination Based on my education, training and experience, scene examination, fire pattern analysis, and statements obtained; it is my opinion that the cause of this fire is Accidental. The carelessly discarded smoking materials found in the combustible seating materials of the couch could not be eliminated as the heat source for this fire.