The state fire marshal is investigating a fire Tuesday night that took the life of a local resident.
The Southwest Fire Protection District was called to the 900 block of Mill School Road at about 8 o’clock. The female caller said there was an explosion in a 24'x30', free standing garage. She believed that her husband was in the garage with another person.
Southwest Fire Chief Ron Richards was the third person on scene.
“The building was pretty much fully involved,” Richards said. “There was a body laying inside the small entrance door but it was too late to do anything for him."
"The other person had gotten out. He was burned pretty bad. They sent him to the St. John’s burn unit.”
The chief says the fire was brought under control in about 90 minutes. The state fire marshal was called in and is awaiting the autopsy of the deceased man to add to his investigation. That autopsy was set to happen today in Springfield.
Nine Southwest personnel fought the fire with a Mid-County tanker and three personnel assisting. Chief Richards did not identify the resident who died in the blaze.
