Victim identified in early morning fire

On Thursday, Jan. 12 at approximately 1:21 A.M., the Butler and Adrian Fire Departments were dispatched to a report of a structure fire in the 300 block of Summer St. in Butler.

First arriving units encountered a large amount of fire in the south portion of a single story, wood frame residential structure.

An attack was made on the fire and an interior search was conducted. A victim was located in the north part of the structure, and was determined to be deceased, apparently from smoke inhalation. The victim was identified as Evelyn Darlene Roberts, 79 years of age.

The fire was declared under control at 1:54 A.M., with the structure sustaining heavy fire damage. The last units left the scene at 6:01 A.M.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office, which is standard procedure for a fatality fire.

-Chief Jim Henry, Butler Fire Department