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Police: Fatal Fire Intentionally Set; 2 Children Among Dead

Three people—including two children—were found dead after an early morning house fire that Bloomington police say was intentionally set. A fourth person survived.

Bloomington Police and Fire departments responded to a reported structure fire just before 3 a.m. Tuesday at 14 Brittany Court. An adult male, a toddler, and an infant were pronounced dead at the scene, McLean County Coroner Kathy Davis said at a press conference midday Tuesday.

A fourth person—a woman—was injured and transported to the hospital, Bloomington Fire Chief Brian Mohr told GLT. A woman with the same name as the homeowner of record at 14 Brittany Court was listed in fair condition Tuesday afternoon at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson said. The woman's relationship to the man and the two children was unclear.

“We feel the fire was intentionally set, but isolated. And there’s no reason at this time there are any threats to public safety,” Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner said.

The victim's names are being withheld pending family notification. Autopsies are set for later Tuesday.

No arrests have been made, Heffner said.

Authorities remained at the scene throughout the day Tuesday. The two-story home on Brittany Court near Chesapeake Lane in the Eagle Crest subdivision was circled by police tape but did not have obvious fire damage visible from the street. Windows and doors were propped open. Police officers on scene declined comment.

Authorities released very few details at the press conference, which last 3 minutes.

“We’re not going to answer any more questions at this time because we don’t want to compromise the investigation,” Heffner said.

Bloomington Police, Fire, and the coroner's office are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bloomington Detective John Heinlen at (309) 434-2672 or jheinlen@cityblm.org.

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Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.