Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies rescued a Warsaw man from a burning house on Chapman Lake over the weekend.
KCSD officers, along with Leesburg Fire Department personnel, responded to 1309 Chapman Lake Drive, Warsaw, Sunday at approximately 11:13 p.m. after receiving a report of a house fire.
Emergency personnel also were advised that there was a subject inside the residence who possibly ignited the fire intentionally to commit suicide.
An off-duty KCSD deputy arrived within three minutes from his residence and found the resident, later identified as Michael Fremault, standing inside the front door as smoke plumed from the second floor of the house.
The deputy went to the front door of the residence. Fremault ran upstairs to where the core of the fire was burning, continually telling the officer to “come and get him”. As the sheriff’s deputy climbed to the second floor, Fremault had fallen to the ground due to fire and extreme levels of toxic smoke.
Fremault was then dragged down the stairs as other arriving KCSD deputies arrived to assist in the doorway.
Once outside, Fremault became combative and officers then placed him in the back of a sheriff’s department squad car until Multi-Township EMS arrived and administered medical aid to him, as well as the deputy sheriff. Fremault was still combative and was transported by deputies to Kosciusko Community Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Fremault confirmed that he did wish to commit suicide and appeared to be intoxicated during conversations with officials. He was later medically cleared at KCH and transported by officers to the Bowen Center for a 72-hour mental evaluation.
Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Department also assisted Leesburg Fire Department at the scene.
