VIRDEN, Ill. (WCIA) – A 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old man died after a house fire in Virden on Saturday morning.
According to Jim Allmon, Sangamon County Coroner, the individuals were brought to the emergency room at Springfield Memorial Hospital after being removed from a house fire near the intersection of Dean and Blair Streets in Virden.
Both were pronounced deceased shortly after they arrived. Their identities are being held until their next of kin has been notified.
According to the Virden Fire Protection District, the fire department was dispatched to the home because a witness driving by reported the blaze around 9:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they saw “heavy fire conditions.”
Firefighters deployed one hose line to the front door and one to the back of the home. The bulk of the fire was put out quickly, but visibility was limited.
When the firefighters found the two individuals, they requested Life Flight, but it was not available due to weather conditions. Another victim was located after searching further, and they were removed from the home for medical care. No information on this victim’s status has been provided.
Virden first responded to the scene around 9:28 a.m. Prairieland Ambulance Company also responded. Mutual aid was requested from Girard and Auburn Fire Department before crews arrived on scene. Additional aid was also requested from Gillespie-Benld Ambulance and Chatham Fire Department.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Sangamon County Coroner are investigating.