A Libertyville police officer witnessed flames coming from a house in the village just before dawn Friday, and as of later that day, the person who died in the blaze had not been identified.
According to a police department news release, a house fire in the 100 block of Johnson Avenue in Libertyville left one person dead Friday morning after an officer said they saw the “fully involved” fire at the home while on “routine patrol.”
The identity of the person — including whether it was a male or female — was not immediately released by Friday afternoon. In the news release from the Libertyville Police Department, officials said a person was found inside the house once the fire had been extinguished and authorities were able to search the home.
The fire took place a little before 3:30 a.m., the release states.
As a result of the blaze, officials closed down the roadways around the area, including Milwaukee Avenue. Several other nearby fire departments responded to the scene as well, the release states.
The Libertyville police and fire departments, along with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Lake County Coroner’s Office are all investigating the incident, the release states.
The investigation was ongoing as of Friday afternoon, and the identity of the person is expected to be released by the coroner’s office after the family has been notified, officials said.