Man killed in Chatham house fire Friday morning identified
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon late Saturday night identified the man found dead at the scene of a house fire on Mansion Road in Chatham early Friday morning.
Preliminary autopsy findings suggest Lennis C. Knight, 76, of Chatham, died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.
Chatham Fire Chief Gary Self said firefighters responded to the blaze in the 3800 block of Mansion Road at 1:21 a.m. The home was engulfed in flames when crews arrived.
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Self said Knight was found in a living area of the home. Knight's wife was able to get to safety.
A puppy was killed in the fire, Self said.
A driver passing by called dispatch about the fire, Self said.
Chatham firefighters fought the blaze for about two-and-a-half hours, he added. Units from Springfield, Auburn, Divernon, Pawnee, Loami and New Berlin assisted, Self said.
The death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner, the Chatham Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal. The fire marshal was trying to determine the cause of the blaze, Self said.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Man dies of carbon monoxide poisoning in Chatham Illinois house fire
