Residential Fire On Jackson Street Claims Life Of 3-Year-Old

     Decatur, IL – August 30, 2025 – At approximately 7:02 p.m., the Decatur Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 642 S. Jackson Street.
     While en route, dispatch advised that a child was believed to be inside the residence. Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke coming from the second floor. Neighbors provided crews with the child’s last known location.
The first-arriving engine company immediately initiated rescue operations, placing a ladder to the second floor and conducting a rapid search. The second-arriving engine company began fire suppression efforts, quickly locating and extinguishing the fire, while the third company assisted with search operations.
     Firefighters located a three-year-old victim and immediately initiated resuscitation efforts. The child was transported to Decatur Memorial Hospital, where, despite extensive life-saving measures, the victim succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire.
     The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Decatur Fire Department and the Decatur Police Department, with assistance from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.