One person is dead and two people are injured after an early morning house fire on Gale Avenue in Peoria.
Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said a resident knocked on the door at fire station 13 shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday, asking for help for a residence on fire.
Firefighters responded to 3420 N. Gale Ave. and saw fire coming from the front door and a bedroom area, with smoke and flames visible from the outside the house.
Sollberger said firefighters found the person dead when they searched the house again after their initial rescue attempts.
One firefighter was injured during the rescue efforts. Sollberger said they may have torn a tricep. A resident also was injured. Sollberger said they cut themselves while trying to break a window and warn the occupants of the house.
The injuries are not life threatening.
According to a press release, a fire investigator ruled the cause accidental.
Sollberger said this is the first fire-related death in Peoria since Sept. 2021. He expects the Peoria County coroner to release more information on Friday.
