Man killed in Trotwood house fire ID’d; wife injured

A homeowner died after an early Monday house fire that injured his wife in Trotwood.

The victim was identified as 52-year-old Donald Dayton by Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger.

A 911 caller reported at 12:03 a.m. that a house in the 5500 block of Denlinger Road was on fire, according to the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center.

Crews arrived to find heavy fire and smoke coming from the residence, Trotwood Fire Chief Richard Haacke said.

A woman met firefighters in the driveway and said her husband, later identified as Dayton, was still inside their home, the chief said.

Crews entered the home, where they found Dayton unconscious in the hallway. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, Haacke said.

Dayton’s wife was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, Haacke said. She is in stable condition.

The home is a total loss and the cause of the fire is under investigation, the chief said.

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