Man dies in Sumpter Township fire

A man’s body was found by fire fighters in a house that had burned Saturday around noontime at 48744 Wear Road in Sumpter Township.
Sumpter Police Captain Eric Luke said the initial investigation points to the 54-year-old male victim, a resident of the 48000 block of Wear Road, committed suicide by self-immolation while inside the residence. The fire then set the residence ablaze.
The Sumpter Township Police Department was assisted with the on-scene investigation by the Michigan State Fire Marshal and are awaiting that finalized report. Notification was made to the next-of-kin, Captain Luke said, although due to the ongoing investigation police will not be releasing the victim’s name at this time.
Fire Chief Joseph Januszyk, who was out of town at the time of the fire, said a Sumpter Township Police officer was at the autopsy done by the Wayne County Medical Examiner.
Chief Januszyk said, according to his department’s written report, dispatch toned out Sumpter fire fighters at 12:16 p.m., telling them of the possibility of someone being in the house.
Sumpter called Augusta Township for mutual aid and Chief Januszyk said fire was in “Condition Able” at 1:31 p.m., about an hour and 15 minutes later.
The damaged front of the house was boarded up after the fire.