Rural Sterling fire victim identified: Sheriff

STERLING – A 32-year-old woman has been identified as the victim of a Sunday fire at a rural Sterling residence.

Christina M. Haugen died in the fire at 5500 Mill St. in Emerson, Whiteside County Sheriff John F. Booker announced Tuesday afternoon. An autopsy conducted Tuesday morning confirmed Haugen as the victim.

The house caught fire about 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Haugen, the home’s resident, was discovered Monday about 2:30 p.m. during a recovery mission conducted by the Sterling Fire Department, Illinois State Fire Marshal and Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office.

Complete autopsy results are not available at this time, Booker said. The cause of death and cause of the fire are still under investigation, he said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to the family of Christina Haugen,” according to Tuesday’s news release.

On Sunday, Sterling and Rock Falls firefighters and CGH EMS were called to the scene for a reported structure fire with flames and smoke visible. Mutual aid from surrounding departments – including Dixon Rural Fire and Polo – was requested while units were en route, according to a news release from the Sterling Fire Department.

Sterling firefighters arrived on scene within 10 minutes and found heavy smoke and fire conditions throughout the first floor of the structure. A second alarm was requested later, bringing a total of 16 departments to the scene, according to the release.

Fire crews made multiple attempts to search the interior of the structure, but were forced to evacuate due to heavy fire conditions and a partial collapse of the ceiling on the first floor, according to the release.

“Sterling Fire Department would like to say thank you to the responding fire departments who assisted with this fire,” according to the release.

The investigation has been conducted by the Sterling Fire Department, Illinois State Fire Marshal, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, and Whiteside County Coroner’s Office.