NOTE: This story was updated at 2:18 p.m. to include the official cause of death.
The victim of Saturday’s fatal house fire at 828 E. Berrien St. has been identified as Eulon Cooper, 70.
Knox County Coroner Jacque Dare pronounced Cooper dead at the scene. An autopsy conducted Monday determined the cause of death was inhalation of smoke and soot due to the residential fire.
One firefighter was injured in the fire. The Galesburg Fire Department responded to the structure fire with reported victims trapped at 10:54 a.m. Feb. 22.
Upon arrival, fire crews encountered heavy smoke and flames visible from the two-story residential structure.
While attempting to remove a victim from the second floor, two firefighters were caught in a partial collapse. One firefighter was uninjured and another was treated and released at the scene. A victim from the second floor was transported by GHAS to OSF St. Mary Medical Center.
Firefighters located Cooper on the first floor.
The Galesburg Fire Department, Galesburg Police Department, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the fire.
Because the structure was dangerously unstable, authorities executed an emergency demolition order.
