James Mullen Obituary, Death; – An 80-year-old man lost his life on Thursday due to a fire that erupted in a residence located in Cumberland County.
The incident occurred on County Road 2350E in Casey. Michael Carlen, Chief of the Greenup Fire Protection District, reported that his team was dispatched at 1 p.m. Upon arrival, they encountered significant flames on the west side of the house, particularly in the kitchen area. The extreme heat and fire intensity prevented firefighters from entering the structure, necessitating an external firefighting approach.
Carlen noted that there was a partial collapse of the building, which was ultimately deemed a total loss. Several hours later, while sifting through the debris, firefighters discovered a man’s body, who was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.
Jennifer Phipps, a Deputy Coroner for Cumberland County, confirmed the identity of the deceased as James Mullen. The exact cause of his death remains undetermined. The cause of the fire itself has also yet to be established, with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal currently conducting an investigation.
The Greenup Fire Protection District received assistance from the fire departments of Casey and Toledo at the scene, while the Neoga Fire Department provided coverage for Greenup’s fire station.
