New Munster blaze suspicious, authorities said
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
According to a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department press release, the man killed in a truck fire at Best Bargains in New Munster last week was 64-year-old Paul Hoffman, of Burlington.
The Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Hoffman’s identity through dental records.
Hoffman was a resident of Water’s Edge Circle in Burlington and an employee at Best Bargains.
The fire, deemed suspicious, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, started before 8 a.m. when the Town of Wheatland Fire Department and deputies were dispatched to the property at 6515 352nd St.
“While on the way to the call they were advised that the vehicle was occupied and bystanders were trying to remove the occupant,” a Sheriff’s Department news release stated.
However, by the time authorities arrived, they discovered the red truck ablaze with the victim still inside.
Consequently, the victim was pronounced dead.
“Deputies observed that the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames,” the release said. “The subject in the vehicle is deceased.”
The Westosha Report, at the scene of the fire, asked whether any other departments were involved.
According to Sgt. Eric Klinkhammer, Town of Wheatland fire officials extinguished the vehicle “within minutes of arriving.”
However, authorities are investigating the fire as suspicious.
Sheriffs Detectives were observed collecting evidence at the scene Friday.
“It is suspicious because we don’t know what happened,” Klinkhammer said on Friday.
The Westosha Report followed up this Monday, with no additional updates available.