Two men in their 70s, and a dog and a cat died in a house fire in unincorporated Union early Tuesday morning. A newspaper delivery worker discovered the fire and called 9-1-1 to report the entire front of the house was on fire. The caller also reported the roof was on fire, and possibly “caving in.”
The identities of the victims were released Wednesday, March 6, 2024 by McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein as Eric Dettmer, age 73, of Union, and Mark Dodge, age 71, of Campbell, New York.
McHenry County Sheriff’s, firefighters, and paramedics from Union responded about 4:07 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2024 to a report of the house fire in the block of 9600 Knolltop Road in unincorporated Union.
Firefighters on arrival reported a fire in the living room of a one-story home. Firefighters were aware that elderly man and an elderly male guest lived in the home. On-scene fire command requested three mutual aid ambulances immediately respond to the scene.
Firefighters were leading out with a hose line by 4:18 a.m.
A MABAS Division 5 Box Alarm #5-5070 was requested by 4:23 a.m.
The first victim was recovered from the house by about 4:31 a.m. Eventually both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from Algonquin, Belvidere, Cary, Crystal Lake, Hampshire, Elgin, McHenry, Pingree Grove, Rutland-Dundee, and Wonder Lake were assigned to the scene.
Firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from Hebron, Fox River Grove, Walworth (Wisconsin) were assigned Change of Quarters for Union Fire Protection District.
Mutual aid equipment and units included fire engines, tenders, ladder trucks, ambulances, and chiefs.
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, assigned to respond to the scene, was notified of the fatal fire by about 4:53 a.m.
The Box Alarm was struck out about 5:32 a.m.
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