Fatal Fire Update: State Fire Marshal Investigates Cause of Alton House Blaze
Alton firefighters battled freezing temperatures to control a fire where a man and dog were tragically found dead inside their residence.
ALTON — The Alton Fire Department encountered a very tragic situation early Monday morning, Dec. 1, 2025, when they discovered a man and a dog who had died in a fire.
The blaze broke out around 2:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in the 900 block of Rixon in Alton. Firefighters arrived to find a single-story home fully engulfed in flames, Alton Fire Department Battalion Chief Derrick Richardson said.
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Despite temperatures in the 20s, crews immediately began attacking the fire, working until about 5:15 a.m. Monday, before remaining on scene until the state fire marshal's office completed its work.
“One of my captains found the body and another captain found the dog,” Richardson said. “The weather was a hindrance, but the first shift, which is made up of highly trained, dedicated individuals, immediately went to work. The weather conditions like that are not a hindrance, just a factor.”
Alton Police were on scene, and the Godfrey Fire Protection District was called for additional manpower, but didn't fight the blaze, Richardson said.
The Madison County Coroner and the State Fire Marshal also responded. The State Fire Marshal remained at the scene with the Alton Fire Department to investigate after the fire was extinguished.
“We train for the predictable and unpredictable,” Richardson said. “We know these things can happen and what to do when they happen and how to react.”
Richardson described the department’s approach to the fire: “When we arrived, we were told there may be someone inside. We were prepared." Unfortunately, the person and dog did not survive.
He extended his sympathies to the deceased person's family for their loss and the loss of the pet.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the person who died has not yet been identified. The investigation is ongoing.
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