Vermilion County Coroner Jane McFadden has released the name of the man who died in a Danville apartment fire Saturday night (December 30th, 2017). She says the victim of the fire at 26 South Alexander Street is 52-year-old Charles L. Mullins of Danville.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Danville Fire Department, State of Illinois Fire Marshal’s Office and the Vermilion County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy was scheduled for today (Tuesday).
Assistant Danville Fire Chief Todd Spicer says firefighters found heavy flames coming from the front of the home when they arrived. He says there was also heavy fire in the basement, adding it had either burned through from the first floor or else that was where it started. He said firefighters had to cut their own access to gain access to look for the occupant.
Temperatures were near zero with 20-below zero wind-chills as firefighters handled the call. Assistant Chief Spicer said those conditions made it very difficult. ”Of course, the water freezes almost immediately upon contact. Your hoses start to freeze-up if you don’t use them. You have to keep your men moving and rehabbed,” said Spicer, ”so that they don’t get cold. It just takes a toll very quickly on crews and efforts.”
There were no firefighters hurt as units remained on the scene about four hours.
