
The person found dead after a 3-alarm building fire in Round Lake on Friday has been identified by the coroner.
On August 4 at around 4:15 p.m. the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District was called to the Campos Tax Service building at 247 North Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake for a report of a structure fire.
The building housed the tax service on the first floor and apartments on the second floor.
The first fire crew that arrived saw light smoke and entered the building with plans of an interior fire attack, officials said.
Conditions worsened rapidly and the crew was pulled out of the building for a defensive fire attack.
A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) third alarm was requested which brought in fire departments from around Lake County and McHenry County.
Fire officials said that the fire was extinguished at 7:28 p.m..
The following morning on August 5 the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District returned to evaluate the structural integrity of the building. A deceased white male was found in one of the second floor apartments according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office who was then called to the scene.
On Monday an autopsy was performed on the victim. According to Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper the victim has been identified as 33-year-old Aric McClure who was the apartment’s tenant. His next of kin has been notified.
“The preliminary results of the autopsy confirm that Mr. McClure died from smoke and soot inhalation due to the fire. Toxicology results are pending,” Dr. Cooper stated. “Our sincerest condolences go out to his family,” he added.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The building was deemed a total loss.