1 dead, 1 treated for smoke inhalation in Carbondale apartment fire

CARBONDALE, Ill., (KBSI) – A fire in a Carbondale apartment building claimed one life and injured one person on Wednesday.

Emergency crews responded to the fire alarm at 300 S. Marion St. at around 11:16 a.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke and a fire inside one of the residential apartments.

Despite efforts to save the individual found inside, they were pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.

One person was taken to Carbondale Memorial Hospital, treated for smoke inhalation and released.

Tenant Latesha Martin was home watching her 2-year old niece when she had to evacuate her fourth-floor apartment. In the hallway they could see and smell the smoke.

“So I, you know, clutch her. I grab her to my chest,” she said. “I take her to the exit where I know I can be safe.”

Martin said she was coughing and struggling to breathe when they got out. She praised her niece for how well she handled the situation. 

“She was a champ, though,” Martin said. “She got in the ambulance. They checked us out. We did fine but they did take us to the hospital, you know, and make sure everything was okay.”

Though officials are not releasing the deceased person’s name at this time, tenant Osie Abram said he knew the person — he speaks highly of his neighbor.

“He was a magnificent person,” he said. “He was always smiling, talking to you. Even though he was ill he would always say something to motivate someone that was down.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Carbondale Fire Department and partnering agencies.

The City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Fire Department expressed condolences to the family, friends and neighbors of the deceased.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.