East St. Louis man dies in house fire

A 50-year-old East St. Louis man died in a fire at his home Saturday night. Authorities have not yet released the victim’s name.

East St. Louis Assistant Fire Chief Todd Hill said a call came into the fire department at 8:40 p.m., and when fire crews from Engine Houses 422 and 426 arrived on scene, the house was fully involved.

The victim rented the home at 2808 Summit for the last eight years, Hill said.

Fire crews learned at the scene from the homeowner that the victim could possibly be inside.

“She had spoken to him earlier in the day and said he might be home,” Hill said. “The back of the structure was fully involved, and flames were coming through windows and doors.”

He said firefighters knocked down the flames and went through the home and found the victim’s body on the floor near a bedroom on the main level of the house.

Although Hill did not not know with any certainty what caused the fire, he said a preliminary investigation shows the roof and the kitchen were heavily damaged.

The fire was coming largely from the back of the home, which indicates that the victim may have been cooking and fell asleep, Hill said. However, he said the Illinois State Fire Marshal's office will be on scene Monday and will make the final determination of the cause and origin of the fire.

Some residents complained the fire house closest to the residence is closed. Fire house 424, located at 27th and State streets, was closed due to a lack of manpower. The responding fire companies, 422 is located at 17th and Lincoln, and 426 is located at 76th and State Street. Hill said 422 would have responded anyway.

This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "East St. Louis man dies in house fire."