(La Porte County, IN) - A lightning strike is among the possible causes of a house fire that claimed the life of a La Porte County government worker early on the Fourth of July.

 

Kathryn Zabel, 23, was found deceased in her upstairs bedroom in the 2700 block of W. 1650 South near Hanna.

 

She was employed by the La Porte County Clerk’s office as a clerical worker the past five years in La Porte Superior Court 3.  La Porte County Clerk Heather Stevens described her as more of a “beautiful friend” than a co-worker to many people in her office.

 

“To say that everyone is heartbroken would be an understatement,” she said.

 

Hanna Township Fire Chief Tony Wallace said the only other person in the over century old two story farmhouse at the time was her father, Bill Zabel, who managed to escape the burning structure.  The man was looked over by paramedics at the scene but did not require further medical attention.

 

According to La Porte County Police, a responding officer just after midnight was not able to safely enter the structure due to heavy smoke.

 

Wallace said the east end of the house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters from multiple departments began arriving.

 

He said the victim was located after the blaze was extinguished.

 

Wallace said the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire with help from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office.  Those agencies were brought in as standard procedure whenever a death is involved in a fire.

 

Wallace said investigators are focused on ruling out potential causes so whatever possibilities remain such as a lightning strike can be further explored since there were storms containing lightning passing through the area before the fire.

 

He said the National Weather Service was contacted to determine if there were any lightning strikes in the area while investigators look for any physical evidence of a lightning strike on the property.

 

“They’re just looking to eliminate all possible ways the fire could have started,” he said.

 

Wallace said the house was renovated at some point with new electrical wiring installed.

 

La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney said he knew the victim and her family very well since Zabel was a friend of his 19-year old daughter.

 

“She had a huge heart.  She was so sweet and caring.  She was just an amazing, wonderful young lady,” he said.

 

Parts of the house were still standing until a rekindling of the flames about 24 hours later destroyed what was left of the structure.

 

“The Zabel’s have nothing left except for the clothing they were wearing and their cars.  That’s it,” Haney said.

 

The victim’s mother, Christen, is co-director of the La Porte County Voters Registration Office.

 

Stevens said anyone interested in donating to help the family financially can do so at Venmo@Christen-Zabel.  Monetary donations are also being accepted at the voters registration office at 555 Michigan Ave. just a short walk from the downtown La Porte courthouse.

 

“Katie will be forever missed but she will forever be loved,” Stevens said.