JOINT NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE. MARIE FIRE DEPARTMENT
SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE DEPARTMENT
*************************
REF: 346 West Spruce Street Fire
At approximately 11:18 p.m. on April 15th, 2024, the Sault Ste. Marie Fire and Police Departments responded to a report of a structure fire at 346 West Spruce Street within the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Upon arrival, a home, well involved with fire and smoke was found by responding personnel.
The fire was controlled quickly and efforts to search the structure began simultaneous with fire suppression operations, confirming on-scene reports of an occupant within the structure at the time of the fire. There was one adult victim, Amber Vasser, found deceased in the structure during the firefighting operation.
The investigation into the origin and cause of this fire has been completed with the aid of the Michigan State Police Fire Investigative Unit and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department. The fire has been classified as an accidental cooking fire, with the origin of the fire in the kitchen.
For 2024, kitchen fires are the second leading cause of fire deaths in the State of Michigan.
The Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit assisted the Sault Ste. Marie Fire and Police Departments during the investigation.
If anyone has information about this incident, please contact Detective Donnay (906)632-5753 or Detective Carruthers (906)632-5752 of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department. Any inquiries related to this incident can be made by contacting Fire Chief Edwin Miller (906)632-2226.
*************************
