Body found in fire at condemned house in Belleville

Authorities say a body was found in a fire Saturday morning at a condemned house in Belleville.

Investigators were working to determine the identity of the deceased. The person’s body was badly burned, firefighters said.

The fire was reported about 6:20 a.m. at 602 Abend St., where a placard on the property indicated the home was condemned.

After arriving on scene a minute later, firefighters saw heavy flames coming out of the house. The fire was under control in 10 to 15 minutes, said Deputy Chief Bud Jacobs.

Neighbors told firefighters they’ve recently seen squatters or homeless people around the home.

Tammi Jacks, 25, lives across the street from the house and said the condemned stickers were put on the house about four months ago.

She said a man in his late 50s or early 60s, whom she didn’t personally know, but previously lived in the house, had been walking around the neighborhood in the last two months.

There were three people who lived in the house before it was condemned, Jacks said.

She characterized the former residents of the house as sweet people.

“It’s really sad, it’s really heartbreaking,” Jacks said.

Battalion Chief Randy Schield said an autopsy was scheduled to be conducted Sunday on the body, which he said appears to be that of an adult male. There were pieces of ceiling and insulation on top of the body, Schield said.

The fire engulfed the home. Firefighters said the body was found in the room where the fire apparently started, along with smoking materials and candles.

Schield said the fire apparently started in the living room, near a couch. There were no utilities connected to the house, he said.

Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office were assisting the Belleville Fire Department’s investigative unit.

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This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Body found in fire at condemned house in Belleville."