94-year-old woman killed in Ogden Dunes fire

A 94-year-old woman was killed in a fire early Thursday in northwest Indiana that also sent a police officer to the hospital.

A neighbor a few houses away in the 0-100 block of Diana Road in Ogden Dunes spotted flames and called 911 at 4:51 a.m., according to a statement from the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department.

A police officer was first to arrive and tried to enter the home to find any residents, but found heavy smoke instead, according to the statement. He was treated for smoke inhalation at Porter Regional Hospital and released.

Crews from several departments fought the fire and later found an elderly woman in an upstairs bedroom, according to the statement and the Lake County coroner’s office.

The 94-year-old, identified as Wanda Maxine Wunder by Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris, was removed from the home but pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Harris said an autopsy found Wunder died of smoke and soot inhalation, and she had also suffered several injuries. Her manner of death has not yet been determined.

Several authorities including the Ogden Dunes Fire Department, Porter County Fire Investigation Strike Team, Portage Fire Investigation Team and Indiana State fire marshal’s office are investigating the cause and origin of the blaze.

Ogden Dunes is a small lakefront community in Porter County between Portage and Burns Harbor.