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Last updated on Tuesday, January 20, 2015
(THALES) - A body was discovered after a multiple building fire in Dubois County.
According to the Dubois Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters were called to a multiple structure fire at the home of Mike Bauer at 9779 North 400 East just after 3 p.m. Saturday.
When firefighters arrived they found that the home and three barn-type structures had burned to the ground.
A short time after firefighters arrived on scene, a family member told firefighters they couldn't find Bauer and that all of his vehicles were still at the home along with all of the farm tractors.
Family members who arrived on scene made numerous phone calls to try to contact Bauer, but were unsuccessful.
Firefighters then began searching the charred buildings and found what they believe were Bauer's remains in his bedroom.
The remains could not be identified as human at the scene. They were removed by the Dubois County Coroner's Office. The remains were taken to Becher Kluesner Funeral Home in Jasper and will be examined by a forensic pathologist.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office began an investigation on Saturday. On Sunday morning, Dubois fire department units were back on the scene, along with representatives of the state fire marshal's office, the county coroner's office and an Ohio Valley Search and Rescue search team with cadaver dogs. The dogs gave signals in the area where the remains were found.
So far, Bauer has not come forward and it is presumed he perished in the fire.
Four trucks and 30 firefighters responded Saturday afternoon and were on the scene for four and a half hours.
Firefighters believe the fire probably started sometime between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Saturday. The blaze appeared to have started in the home with the wind then spreading the fire to the two nearby buildings.
The location north of the Dubois Crossroads in the Thales area is very remote and that is why firefighters believe the fire was not noticed.
The cause of the blaze is undetermined at this time.
The Dubois County Sheriff's Department and Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services also assisted at the scene.
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