Fire on Hunt Drive leaves woman dead

Posted on August 6, 2017
The fire in the 1500 block of Hunt Drive left one woman dead as Normal firefighters battled the flames. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Normal Fire Department)

By Patrick Baron

NORMAL – McLean County Coroner Kathy Davis has released the name of the victim of a fatal fire in Normal early Sunday.

Davis said Diana McLaren-Osburne, 68, was found on the floor of a condominium at 1538 Hunt Drive when firefighters were called at about 12:30 Sunday morning. McLaren-Osburne died at the scene.

The coroner said preliminary autopsy results indicate the woman died from probable carbon monoxide intoxication due to inhaling smoke and soot from the house fire.

In a press release, Normal Fire Department spokesperson Matt Swaney explained the fire, reported around midnight, engulfed a four unit, two story condominium north of the Kroger on College Avenue. McLaren-Osburne was pronounced dead at the scene.

Firefighters were able to rescue a dog and a cat from the building, and by 1:45 a.m. the fire had been put out. Firefighters started clearing the scene after 3:30 a.m.

The Normal Fire Department is currently investigating the fire in conjunction with the coroner’s office.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

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