2 killed in Novi house fire

House catches fire on East Lake Drive near Endwell Street

NOVI, Mich. – A house fire Friday morning in Novi killed two people. 

The house is located on East Lake Drive near Endwell Street. Firefighters from Novi and Walled Lake responded.

The fire started just before 8 a.m.

Authorities said that the fire started in the basement and smoke spread to the house. The couple that died were identified as 61-year-old Barbara Garner and 66-year-old Kenneth Garner, a husband and wife. They were found in a bedroom on the second floor.

"It's a very tragic loss," Novi EMS Jeffery Johnson said. "And we're doing our best to work through this "

"It's just a sad, sad day" said neighbor Kelly Breen. "There's nothing anyone can say that will make it better, other than knowing we will be there for each other."

Investigators are checking to see if the house's furnace caused the fire.

A statement from Barbara Garner's employer, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools District, was released Friday afternoon.

We are grieving today at the Educational Services Center and throughout Walled Lake Schools at the passing of Barb Garner, a 26-year Walled Lake Schools employee, and her husband, in a tragic fire this morning. She worked in Business Office in Payroll and earlier in Accounts Payable and Transportation.
 
Barb was a wonderful, caring, kind, committed friend , co-worker and mother of two adult children, and wife. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Barb’s children and family.

This video of the fire was sent to ClickOnDetroit from Jordan Gray: 

Stay with ClickOnDetroit for more information as it becomes available. 


About the Authors:

Koco joined the Local 4 News team in September of 2016. She was born and raised in Metro Detroit, attended Central Michigan University, and previously worked at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.