Man ID'd in fatal Spring Grove home fire
A 61-year-old Spring Grove man was killed in a fire that heavily damaged his home Friday night.
The McHenry County coroner's office identified him as Erik K. Whalen-Pedersen.
Preliminary findings of an autopsy Saturday showed evidence of smoke and soot inhalation. Additional studies are pending.
Firefighters were called about 5:45 p.m. Friday to the two-story, single-family home on the 9800 block of Hunters Lane, Spring Grove Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Dan Illges said.
What appeared to be a small fire at first proved to be a stubborn blaze that took more than an hour to put out.
The fire was mainly concentrated on the first floor. It was so intense it burned through that floor, sending debris into the basement.
Firefighters also fought the blaze on the second floor, where heat and smoke had traveled, as they tried to prevent the attic from catching fire.
"The attic looked like it was about to flash over," Illges said.
While the fire was still in progress, shortly after 5:45 p.m., crews in the dining room discovered a body.
He said the fire will be under extensive investigation, which will also involve the McHenry County sheriff and the state fire marshal's office.
Illges said assistance on the scene and at the station was provided by neighboring departments.
The building has been boarded up and is uninhabitable. Damage is estimated at $150,000 for the building and $100,000 for the contents.
It appears that only the deceased resided in the house.
No neighboring structures were affected, and no firefighters were injured.
• Daily Herald staff writer Katlyn Smith contributed to this report.