Fire caused substantial damage to a house at 710 1/2 W. Monroe St. in Bloomington. (Photo by Terry James/WJBC)

By Terry James and Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Coroner has confirmed one person died and another is hospitalized following a house fire west of downtown.

A preliminary autopsy shows 57 year old Wilma Brown died from inhaling too much smoke and soot from the fire.

The blaze at 710 1/2 W. Monroe St. was reported to the Bloominton Fire Department at about 5:30 a.m. The home is only a few blocks from the fire department's headquarters.

Fire Captain Doug Stretch said the fire started near the porch and the home is probably a total loss.

Stretch said crews reported heavy fire on the first floor when they arrived.

"Once crews starting getting to work on the second floor and they got driven back by heavy fire," Stretch said.

Leslie Adams lives down the block.

"I woke up to people yelling 'Get out, get out," Adams said. "I came out here and the whole top half of the house was engulfed in flames. I helped the neighbor kids get out."

Details such as a cause are still unknown. Two firemen were also injured while battling the blaze.

Heavy smoke could be seen billowing from the home for miles as crews battled sub-zero temperatures to contain the fire.

McLean County Coroner Kathleen Davis was called to the scene before 9 a m.

WJBC will update this story.