The Vandalia Fire Department responded to a fire early Friday morning that resulted in one fatality. Assistant Fire Chief Mark Meadows said the call came in at about 4:55am Friday morning of a house fire south of Shobonier. Meadows says when the department responded, flames were seen by firefighters about two miles from the site and the residence was fully involved as they got to the scene. St. Peter Fire Department was called to aid VFD and they were able to clear the scene at about 9:30am. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office was on the scene and one fatality was reported. The Fayette County Coroner and the Illinois State Marshal’s offices are investigating the fire.
In the report from Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris, it states all the agencies were dispatched to the structure fire at the Reggie Harre residence in rural Shobonier. Harris says the remains of an unidentified person were located in the front bedroom of the burned structure. Harris states in his report the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office had been dispatched to the same residence the previous evening due to the occupant’s complaint that he has no power to the main house. Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris says a positive identification of the person found has not yet been determined and an autopsy has been scheduled. The matter remains under further investigation.