UPDATE: 4:27 p.m.
CREVE COEUR, Ill — Local police say a 12-year-old girl is dead in the wake of a devastating and tragic fire in Creve Coeur Wednesday morning.
According to a post on social media, Creve Coeur Police are identifying the girl as Madelynn B. McCain, of Pekin. It’s believed she became trapped on an upper floor of the home when flames erupted in the pre-dawn hours.
We understand Creve Coeur Police responded around 4:22 a.m. Wednesday on a report of a house fire in the 500 block of Groveland Street.
We’re told first responders found the home fully engulfed in flame when they arrived on scene roughly two minutes later.
One adult resident had escaped the flames while one other child had reportedly jumped from a second floor window to get to safety. That girl has been treated and released at OSF Medical for smoke inhalation.
Madelynn, however, did not escape. The report from local police says it was her birthday Wednesday.
Police say firefighters from Creve Coeur, Marquette Heights, North Pekin, and East Peoria all responded to the fire.
The Creve Couer Police Department statement goes on to say, “our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Madelynn, and also the officers and firefighters that were involved. ”
Tazewell County Coroner Charles Hanley says an autopsy on McCain will be Friday morning. The Illinois State Fire Marshall’s office continues an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
ORIGINAL STORY:
CREVE COEUR, Ill. — The Illinois State Fire Marshal is helping investigate a house fire in Creve Coeur Wednesday morning.
The fire started around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Groveland Street.
Chief Brad Gill with the Creve Coeur Fire Department told news partner 25 News, when firefighters arrived on-scene, the house was already fully engulfed in flames.
More information is expected to come in a press release from the fire department later Wednesday.
