Family members of a Chillicothe man killed in a house fire Tuesday at his home are looking to raise money for his wife and daughter, who survived the blaze but saw all of their possessions destroyed.
Krista Harney, sister of Michael J. Brodbeck, Jr., 62, set up a GoFundMe for her sister-in-law and niece after Brodbeck died Tuesday following a fire at his home in the 16200 block of Old Galena Road in Chillicothe. Harney said that while his wife and 16-year-old daughter were able to get out of the home in time, Brodbeck couldn’t because he was trapped inside.
According to Harney, the fire destroyed all of their possessions, and the two escaped with only the clothing they were wearing. The family needs help with temporary housing, replacing essential items lost in the fire and covering their daily expenses as they recover from the fire and mourn the passing of a husband and father.
“My brother was the provider for his family,” Harney said. “His absence has made their situation even more difficult.”
As of Thursday afternoon, the family has raised $2,158, nearly halfway to their goal of $4,500.
According to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the home at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a report of a fire. When they arrived, they were told by family members who survived the blaze that Brodbeck was still inside.
However, fire crews couldn’t reach him due to the extent of the blaze and heavy smoke. He was eventually pulled from the home and transported to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where he was pronounced dead at 5:26 p.m.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Tuesday’s deadly fire was the second to happen in Chillicothe within a week, following a trailer fire Jan. 14 that killed an infant.
The baby, 8-month-old A’maya Johnson, had extensive burns to her body and suffered severe smoke inhalation, likely dying “within moments” of the fire starting, according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood. The fire happened at 2607 E. Rome Road at the Pinewood Estates, about a mile away from this week’s fire.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Fundraising aims to help family of Chillicothe house fire victim
Reporting by Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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