Firefighter killed while battling blaze

FORREST -- A Fairbury firefighter was killed and another injured while they battled a fire that heavily damaged a house in the Livingston County commuity of Forrest.

The identity of the dead firefighter was not released early Wednesday. However Fairbury Fire Chief Leroy McPherson said the second firefighter suffered relatively minor injuries while battling the flames.

McPherson said the most seriously injured firefighter died at OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac.

The fire was reported by the home's residents, who fled the house with their three children.

Forrest firefighters were joined by firefighters from Fairbury, Chatsworth, Pontiac, Gibson City, Cullom and Strawn fire departments. Somers said it took about two hours to get the fire under control.