Man dies in early morning Wayne County house fire

WAYNE COUNTY, Ill., (KBSI) — A Sunday morning fire at a rural Wayne County residence has claimed the life of one person.

Firefighters from the Wayne Fire Protection District and emergency medical personnel from Wayne City EMS responded to the reported garage fire at 285 County Road 400 East around dawn.

Upon arrival, crews were informed by a neighbor that one or two people may still be inside the home.

Firefighters searched the bedrooms above the garage and within the residence, locating an unresponsive male.

Life-saving measures were initiated by firefighters, state police, Wayne County deputies, and Wayne City EMS personnel. The victim was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Agencies assisting at the scene included the Dahlgren, McLeansboro, and Jefferson fire departments. The Mt. Vernon and Webber fire departments provided station coverage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and is not currently considered suspicious.

The Wayne Fire Protection District expressed gratitude to responding agencies and offered condolences to the victim’s family.