Man dies when fire sweeps through his East St. Louis home where he was sleeping

A man was killed in a fire Tuesday morning at his North 22nd Street home in East St. Louis.

Carlton J. Davis, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9 a.m., according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.

Davis’ home is at 544 N. 22nd St., said East St. Louis Assistant Fire Chief Lamont Jones.

Authorities initially reported that a homeless man died in the fire.

Jones said the house had no electricity and no running water.

The fire was reported between 6:30 a.m. and 6:40 a.m.

“When we arrived on scene, we found the two-story frame structure fully engulfed,” Jones said. “Big flames were coming from the window and all over the house.”

The victim had been asleep on the second floor.

Jones said he did not know where the fire started or what started it.

“That’s under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office,” Jones said.

It took about two hours for the firefighters to extinguish the blaze, Jones said.

Firefighters were still on the scene at 10:15 a.m. checking for hotspots.

This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 11:44 AM.