Fatal Charles City House Fire Cause “Undetermined” 

The cause of last week’s fatal house fire in Charles City has been ruled “undetermined.”

The Charles City Fire Department (CCFD) was dispatched to 105 Hart Street, just after 4:30 pm ON March 6th, to find a single-story, single-family residence with heavy smoke and fire. 

Mutual aid was called from several area fire departments, including Colwell, Floyd, Rockford, Marble Rock, and Rudd. Close to 30 firefighters battled the blaze for about three-and-a-half houses before the fire was contained, though the rubble was still smoldering the next morning.

During the firefighting efforts, it was discovered that the home’s owner, 78-year-old Ray Vandeventer Junior, had perished in the fire. His body was taken to the state medical examiner for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death.

Meanwhile, the State Fire Marshal’s office, after a review of the fire investigator’s records, has ruled the cause of the blaze as “undetermined,” due to the collapse of the structure and no direct eyewitnesses. 

A GoFundMe account continues for the Vandeventer family to help offset funeral costs and other expenses. As of 1 pm Wednesday (04.15), almost $5,200 had been raised towards a goal of $5,500.