Crime & Safety

Update: Joe Kowall Dies in Weekend Fire

Police and Fire officials from White Lake say the fire resulting in Joe Kowall's death appears to be accidental. Kowall is State Sen. Mike Kowall's younger brother.

State Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) has issued a press release confirming the news that his younger brother, Joe Kowall, was killed in a fire on Sunday.

Mike Kowall called his brother a jokester in the release, stating, "He had a mischievous sense of humor. He was the anti-me."

Joe Kowall, according to the release, had been battling cancer. He was separated from his wife and had no children, and was part owner of Accurate Woodworking, the Kowall family business.

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Mike Kowall said funeral arrangements are pending.

White Lake and were called to the scene of a house fire at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the 5300 block of Wayne Road off Grass Lake.

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According to Police Chief Edward Harris, when they arrived on the scene the home was filled with smoke. Firefighters entered the home and found Joe Kowall amongst the smoke.

He was pulled from the home, but Harris said he was declared dead on the scene.

"The medical examiner's office has ruled it was a death as a result of the fire," Harris said.

Arson investigators were called to the scene, but did not find anything suspicious, Harris said.

"At this point, we think it is nothing more than an accidental fire," Harris said.

Editor's Note: This story will be updated throughout the day as more information is released.


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