Man Found Dead in Vandalia Fire (ADDL INFO)

One person has died apparently as the result of an early Saturday morning fire at the Central High Apartments in Vandalia.

The victim was identified as 63-year-old Jerry Voris, a long-time resident of the apartment complex.  He was found in the hall area of the first floor after other occupants had safety evacuated the building.  Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen pronounced him dead at the scene at 1:06am Saturday, about a half-hour after the original fire call had been received by the Vandalia Police Department.  Bowen said an autopsy Monday determined that Voris' death was fire-related.

Vandalia firefighters, with mutual aid assistance from Brownstown firefighters, handled the fire call.  The Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office was called in to investigate the cause of the fire.  

19 residents of the apartment complex who evacuated spent early Saturday morning at the Vandalia Junior High School Gymnasium, where the Red Cross set up a shelter.