Kathleen Hardy dies in fatal Marshall, Illinois fire

Kathleen Hardy dies in fatal Marshall, Illinois fire

Fatal Marshall, Illinois fire death of Kathleen Hardy – Obituary

A fire that broke out early Friday morning in a Marshall, Illinois duplex claimed the life of 68-year-old Kathleen Hardy, officials have confirmed.

Clark County Coroner Jeff Pearce stated that Hardy died from injuries sustained in the blaze, including smoke inhalation. The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office has launched an investigation to determine what caused the fire.

The fire occurred in the 100 block of Bowen Drive. According to Marshall Fire Protection District Chief Jerry Parsley, emergency crews were dispatched around 2:45 a.m. in response to a report of a duplex fire.

Chief Parsley noted that Hardy, who lived alone and had a disability, was unable to escape the home. “It was a tragedy,” he said. “Nobody needs to go that way.” Firefighters discovered she had already died by the time they were able to reach her inside the heavily smoke-filled apartment.

Most of the damage from the fire was concentrated in a back bedroom, hallway, and bathroom. The flames extended through the ceiling and into the rafters, but the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time.