One person is deceased from a house fire that occurred in Pana on Saturday morning.
According to a press release from the Pana Police Department, at 10:10am Pana Fire Department and Police were dispatched to a reported structure fire in 400 block of east 4th street. Upon arrival on scene, emergency personnel observed heavy smoke and fire coming from the two-story residence. Fire personnel entered the residence to perform a search of the residence for any occupants. However, heavy fire forced the personnel to exit the home. With mutual aid, crews worked to bring the fire under control to continue the search. They found a deceased male near a locked door in the residence. The Christian County Coroner has identified the deceased male. At the request of family members, the deceased’s name has been withheld until extended family can be notified. An autopsy is scheduled to take place today in Bloomington.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Pana Fire Department, Pana Police Department, Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Christian County Coroner. Pana Fire Department received mutual aid from the Tower Hill, Nokomis, Oconee, Assumption, and Taylorville Fire Departments.