A 65-year-old rural Sheller man has died following a fire while visiting at another home late Sunday afternoon.
Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse identified the victim as Thomas Restoff. His body was recovered after firemen from multiple departments were able to knock down the blaze and gain access to the home.
The fire was at the Charles Millowschewski home on North Lodge Lane. It was gutted and a total loss.
Waltonville Fire Chief Larry Ellison says the Mt. Vernon fire chief was the first on the scene and broke out a window to try and access the home to get the trapped man out. However, the fire flashed with the new oxygen and made it impossible to gain access.
The fire is believed to have started on the porch from hot grease being used by the two men to cook chicken in a turkey fryer. The fire then burned into the kitchen where the fire victim was found. While the home is still standing, Ellison says it was gutted by fire.
The fire call first came in at 5:02 Sunday afternoon, with firemen on the scene until after nine pm. The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.
The fire departments called for mutual aid included Jefferson Fire, Mt. Vernon City, Ashley, Sessor, Benton and Valier. The tender task force to bring water to the scene included McLeansboro, Wayne City, Orchardville, Kell, and Centralia Fire Protection District. Coello and Ziegler covered the Waltonville station in the event of another fire.
Hayse says an autopsy will be held at two Tuesday afternoon to determine the cause of death.
