Authorities Identify Man Killed in Otter Tail County House Fire as Joseph Miller

The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office identified the man found dead inside a burning rural home northwest of Wadena as 66-year-old Joseph Thomas Miller, announcing his name on March 11, two days after four fire departments battled the blaze that destroyed the property.

The Otter Tail County Dispatch Center received the call at 3:45 a.m. on Monday, March 9, reporting a structure fire on the 37000 block of County Highway 75. Crews from the Bluffton, Wadena, Sebeka, and New York Mills fire departments responded, along with Astera Ambulance and the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office. When firefighters arrived, they located Miller's body inside the home. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The residence was a total loss.

Miller was the sole owner and resident of the property, according to the Sheriff's Office. No other occupants were reported inside at the time of the fire.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office and the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office are jointly investigating both the origin and cause of the fire and Miller's official cause of death. Authorities said they do not suspect foul play at this time, though both investigations remain open and ongoing.

No cause of fire has been released, and no timeline has been given for when investigators expect to reach conclusions.