Miami home destroyed by fire/Family of four left with nothing after May 31 blaze

A fire of unknown origin destroyed the Miami residence of Nathan Hoeflicker and family. There were no injuries in the fire, according to Slater Fire Chief Richard Johnson. No one was injured in the blaze.
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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The Slater Fire Department was dispatched at 10:50 a.m. Thursday to battle the blaze, sending two trucks to join Miami's Volunteer Fire Department, which was already on the scene, according to fire department officials.

Slater Fire Chief Richard Johnson said Miami only has a small unit to help keep the situation under control until the Slater department gets to the scene.

Seven or eight firefighters were estimated by the chief to be involved in fighting the fire.

Marshall Fire Department provided a tanker truck to help at the scene, according to Marshall Fire Chief John Rieves.

"Miami is outside of our coverage area," said Rieves. "Slater takes care of them."

Johnson said the state fire marshal listed the cause of the fire as undetermined.

Nathan Hoeflicker, his wife Samantha, and two sons, Tristan, 8, and Hunter, 5, lived "just in city limits," Johnson said.

Johnson said there were no injuries.

Donations are being taken for the family at Red Cross Pharmacy, located at 52 E. Arrow and 941 Cherokee, both in Marshall.

"We are doing good on clothes," Hoeflicker said. "We are taking gift cards to places like Wal-Mart so we can get personal things."

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net