Man dies in fire at his home in Freeburg

This story was updated with the correct age of the victim.

A Freeburg resident lost his life Friday in an early morning fire at his home on Kessler Road.

Todd Helfrich, 53, of 705 Kessler Road, was pronounced dead at 7:50 a.m., said St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.

Freeburg Fire Chief Hans Mueller said the fire happened about 7 a.m.

“A next door neighbor, who is a firefighter, woke up to the sound of an explosion,” Mueller said. The neighbor went outside and “saw flames showing through the outside of a window,” the chief said.

When Freeburg firefighters arrived on scene, “they found a pretty good amount of flames,” said Mueller.

The firefighters found a body lying inside in the rear of the home, Mueller said.

Asked about a cause and origin of the fire, Mueller said, “We believe it was electrical, but the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is handling the investigation.”

It took less than a half an hour to knock the fire down, Mueller said.

Helfrich lived alone in the house.

Mueller said there were no smoke detectors in the home.

The chief cautions everyone who doesn’t have a working smoke detector in their home “to please get one. “It is very important to have. It can save your life,” he said.

Freeburg residents can call the Freeburg Fire Department at 618-539-3288.

This story was originally published November 25, 2022 at 6:08 PM.