A man and his three grandchildren were killed in a house fire in Illinois this week. (WBBM)
Crete, Ill.
Authorities in Illinois said a grandfather and his three granddaughters died after an overnight fire destroyed a home Wednesday morning.
Crete first responders said they were called to the property on Chalet Court just before 1 a.m.
Crews tried to search the home while battling the flames, but said they had to stop their search after a partial roof collapse.
The fire was eventually brought under control in about 40 minutes. When firefighters were able to reenter the home, they said they found the victims dead.
WBBM reported that the family identified those who died as 71-year-old Walter Palmer and his three grandchildren: Cassidy, 16; Mary, 10; and Ivy, 8.
Relatives shared that Palmer had been caring for his grandchildren after their mother died of cancer a few years ago.
“It’s devastating not just for me for the fire companies, for the fire companies, for the town, it’s devastating,” Crete Fire Chief Neal Haemaker said.
Neighbors said Palmer was always lending a helping hand to those who needed it.
“He was the greatest guy. He wanted to keep his granddaughters all together and [he was] doing a good job,” neighbor Rosie Wilson told WGN.
Fire officials said the cause of the fire remained under investigation.