Teens Among Four Killed in Crete, IL, House Fire

Olivia Stevens

Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, Ill.)

(TNS)

A house fire in Crete early Wednesday morning killed four people, including two Monee Elementary School students and one Crete-Monee High School student, school and fire officials confirmed.

Firefighters were called to the one-story home on Chalet Court at about 1 a.m. and tried to search the home but withdrew due to “rapidly deteriorating conditions” including heavy fire and a partial roof collapse, according to a village news release.

They brought the fire under control in about 40 minutes and once conditions allowed entered the building to find the four people dead.

Crete-Monee School District 201-U in a news release said the district community is devastated by the loss of three of its students.

“We are all grieving together, and we will do everything we can to support our students, staff and families in the days ahead,” the news release said. The district said students will have access to support from counselors, social workers and other support staff.

The district did not share the students’ names or other information, citing respect for the family’s privacy.

“We will continue to communicate as we are able to do so, including sharing information about available support and opportunities for our community to come together to care for one another,” the release stated. “In the meantime, please join us in keeping the victims and their loved ones in our thoughts.”

The Crete release said the cause of the fire is being investigated by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System fire investigation team, the Crete Police Department and the Will County coroner’s office.

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