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Summit County local Russell Sigler found dead after house fire

Caddie Nath
summit daily news
Summit Daily/Caddie NathOne man died in a structure fire that engulfed a mobile home at Farmer's Korner Tuesday afternoon, the Summit County Coroner's Office confirmed Wednesday.
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A local man was found dead Wednesday morning after a fire engulfed his mobile home on the east side of Highway 9 at Farmer’s Korner Tuesday.

It is unclear whether Russell Kent Sigler, 65, was killed in the blaze that destroyed his house. The manner of death is still under investigation, according to a report from the Summit County Coroner.

Fire officials don’t know what caused the fire, but say they cannot rule out an electrical problem.



“We are 99.9 percent sure that this was an accidental fire, and not an incendiary or intentionally-set fire,” Red, White and Blue deputy chief Jay Nelson said Wednesday, with an investigation under way. “Whatever evidence may come forward could change that.”

Firefighters were called to the scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and found the small structure fully ablaze, with flames coming from the doors and windows.



Heavy smoke and fire prevented teams from entering the house to search for people trapped inside when they initially arrived on scene, fire officials said.

“There was so much smoke and flame coming out that it was just too dangerous to send our firefighters in,” Nelson said. “As soon as they were able to push that fire back, they started their search right away.”

The building only had one available entrance when the fire started. A second entrance had been boarded up, Nelson said.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread to other structures nearby.

The coroner confirmed Wednesday the body recovered from the building was that of Sigler, a longtime local affectionately known as “Siggy.”

Records show he was the owner of the house, which did not appear to be equipped with smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.

Sigler had worked for Summit County Ambulance Service for roughly 16 years.

“Our condolences go out to Siggy’s family and friends,” ambulance service director Marc Burdick stated in a release from the agency. “He will be missed.”

Sigler was the third Summit County resident to die suddenly in as many days.

County government employee James Lindenblatt, 37, was killed in an avalanche while backcountry skiing near Marble on Sunday. Frisco resident Karen Crawford, 40, was found dead in her home on Monday, apparently of natural causes, according to the coroner’s office.


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