Two Children Die in Broadlands House Fire

An early morning house fire in Broadlands has claimed the lives of two young children.

Firefighters were called to the home on Logan Street just past 2 a.m., and worked at the scene for more than 3 hours. The two-story house was destroyed. The names of the one and two-year olds who died are not being released pending notification of other family members. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup says an autopsy will be conducted in Bloomington on Friday. County Sheriff's Lieutenant Ed Ogle said the six members of the family were all sleeping in the downstairs living room in an effort to stay warm before being awakened by neighbors. He said the parents were able to get the older children out, but couldn't get back in to save the younger children.

The four other family members were not hurt. Ogle said the home was engulfed in flames by firefighters arrived, and spread quickly.

"We don't know how long it had been burning until prior to somebody noticing it," Ogle said. "That's what we're currently working with the state fire marshal's office on now to try to determine how it started, where it started, and what possibly fed it so fast."

Ogle said the fire likely started in a garage which is attached by a breezeway. Five fire departments fought the blaze, including Broadlands, Longview, Villa Grove, Sidney, and Homer. Water hauled to the scene caused the road to freeze up, which was closed until after 6 a.m., after an IDOT crew could spread salt in that area.