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A 63-year-old man has been identified as the person whose body was found badly burned in a natural gas explosion at a tavern over the weekend, officials said Wednesday.

Chief Deputy Coroner James Wipper said that Dennis Hayward Sr. died in the fire early Saturday at the Michigan Inn, 239 Greenwood Ave.

Waukegan fire officials said the fire and subsequent explosion that destroyed the building were apparently caused by a break in a natural gas main on the street in front of the bar. The gas seeped into the building and was probably ignited by a water heater or boiler.