Victim in rural East Peoria fatal fire identified

TAZEWELL COUNTY, Ill. – The victim in a fatal fire Monday in rural East Peoria has been identified.

Tazewell County Coroner Charles Hanley says 65-year-old Mark Evans was pronounced dead at the scene of the fire.

Fire crews were alerted to the fire just before 5:30 A.M. at a residence on the 100-block of Spring Creek Terrace.

Hanley says an autopsy conducted on Monday shows Evans’ cause of death was due to the inhalation of smoke and soot from the fire.

The fire remains under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshal, and the Tazewell County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Offices.