Danville Public Safety Director Larry Thomason has confirmed that a person died when flames struck a residential home for Veterans Thursday morning. Initial reports from the scene at 300 Park Street had said it was believed all occupants were safe. But Thomason says firefighters found a body during a search of the two-story structure. The Vermilion County Coroner’s Office had not yet released the name of the victim Thursday afternoon.
Assistant Fire Chief Duane Hall said some off-duty firefighters were called to help with the situation. There was heavy smoke rolling from the structure when firefighters arrived on the scene. Hall said the original call said there was a fire in the kitchen.
A large stone in front of the structure said it has served Veterans since 1959. The location of the fire is about three blocks east of the Public Safety Building in Danville.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. It caused heavy damage to the interior of the two-story structure.
