THE FOLLOWING STORY IS BY BILL PICKETT AND STEVE BRANDY
ABOVE: Danville firefighters battle structure fire in 300 Block of N. Fletcher St. in Danville, where one victim was reported after three people escaped safely (photo by Bill Pickett).
A fire early this morning (Wed March 12th) has left one person dead and three others treated for smoke inhalation.
The alarm was received at 3:17 AM, and Danville firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the home in the 300 block of North Fletcher Street when they arrived. A release by the Danville Fire Department says firefighters were met upon arrival by three people who had already escaped the home. They informed the firefighters that a victim remained inside the home. Fire crews from two companies attempted to make entry into the home, but were driven back due to the high heat conditions. A third arriving crew attempted entry through a different part of the home, but again were forced to retreat due to the high heat conditions.
Firefighters were later able to enter the home and located the victim, determined to be deceased; and the Vermilion County Coroner’s Office was notified. The name of the victim and cause of death will not be released until an autopsy can be performed, and the family is given time to be notified. The other three victims were taken to OSF. It is believed that a family pet was also lost in the fire.
The Fire Department reports about $170,000 in damages to the home, and that there were no working smoke detectors in the home. The investigation into the cause continues, and the American Red Cross was notified to also assist the family.
Earlier in the evening, at 11:57 PM Tuesday (March 11th), the Danville Fire Department was called to a fire at a one story, unoccupied house in the 500 block of Porter Street. Firefighters responded to a report of heavy smoke coming from the residence. The fire was brought under control quickly, and the last fire unit was cleared at 4:58 AM. There were no firefighter injuries reported.
