A midday fire Sunday claimed the life of a man at a home in the northern part of the city, according to fire officials who said firefighters arrived at 16 Williamson Ave. to find a garage burning.

Fire Chief Randall Trull said a “deceased male” was removed from the property. Police said Sunday night the victim had not been positively identified, and an autopsy would be performed today at Concord Hospital. According to a press release issued by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, identification of the victim and cause of death are pending results of the autopsy and notification of the family.

The body was removed from the garage, according to the release. Fire department Lt. John Lacasse said the garage was destroyed in the fire, and the house sustained extensive smoke and water damage.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. Preliminary findings put the origin of the fire in the garage and there are indications that work was being done to a vehicle in the garage. Earlier in the day, Lacasse said he had heard reports of ammunition exploding during the fire, but Lacasse nor Trull would confirm an explosion or the presence of amunition.

The property is listed as the residence of Edward R. and Karen Wedge. A neighbor, Susan Gallagher, said she had lived nearby for 24 years, and that the Wedges had been in the neighborhood longer than that.

She said Wedge, who goes by the name “Ronnie,” is a “nice guy,” with whom she’s familiar both as a neighbor and a customer. Gallagher said she cuts Wedge’s hair at the barber shop she runs at her home.

Firefighters arrived just before 12:30 p.m., according to Lacasse. A neighbor who did not wish to be identified said he was at the home shortly after the fire broke out, and said the body had been removed from the garage, and a fire extinguisher was nearby.

“The garage was fully involved, and it had started to break into the house,” Lacasse said, before firefighters got it under control. He said initial responders weren’t sure if anyone was in the home when they arrived. They later located the body.

One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion during the effort, and was treated at a hospital and released, according to Lacasse, who said only the Berlin department responded to the fire.

He said Berlin firefighters also had to contend with a second house fire on Jericho Street, which started while they were fighting the Williamson Avenue fire. The second fire turned out to be minor, he said.

bhookway@newstote.com