Officials have released the name of the victim who died in an early morning Chenango County house fire.
Suzanne Schatzle, 62, was found dead inside her residence following a fatal blaze that engulfed the house on Aug. 20 at 660 county Road 4 in the Town of Preston, according to New York State Police.
State police, the Norwich City Fire Department and the Preston Fire Department were dispatched to the reported fire at about 2:30 a.m.
At the scene, troopers found the house completely engulfed in flames. Neighbors told first responders that Schatzle may still be inside and that they had attempted to make contact with her but were unsuccessful.
Eventually, members of the fire department were able to locate her body inside the house. No other casualties were reported.
The investigation into the fire is ongoing. Members of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Chenango County Fire investigators responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.
Who was Suzanne Schatzle?
On Aug. 23, the Westchester County Probation Association made a Facebook post honoring Schatlzle, a retired supervising probation officer. She worked in public service for decades, leaving “a lasting impact on countless individuals, victims, families and colleagues.”
Schatzle began her career with Westchester Probation in 1987, serving in both criminal and family court, according to the association. She worked in numerous specialized units, including general supervision, warrants, victim advocacy, domestic violence and mental health. In the final four years of her career, she served as a supervisor overseeing mental health, domestic violence and victim services.
In 2017, she was awarded the Director’s Award for Outstanding Service by a Probation Officer by the state. This recognition honored her for “her work with helping victims of domestic violence and holding abusive offenders accountable,” according to the association.
Outside of work, Schatzle still spent her time serving others. She volunteered to help veterans and people with developmental challenges, mental illness, autism and physical disabilities through an equestrian therapy program, according to the association. She also worked with children at the Jacob Burns Film Center in the Village of Pleasantville.
Schatzle was a comedian and entertainer beginning in 2008 and she served as president of the Town of Harrison Council of the Arts for ten years.
“Suzanne’s life was defined by service, compassion, advocacy and an unwavering commitment to others,” the association stated.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Chenango County fire victim Suzanne Schatzle remembered for life of service
Reporting by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin | USA TODAY Network
