Wife dead, two hurt in Coleta house fire

COLETA – An elderly woman is dead and her son and husband injured after a fire destroyed their house early Monday.

Doris C. Kvinge, 85, died at the scene. Marc M. Kvinge, 56, and Milton M. Kvinge, 87, were taken to CGH Medical Center. Marc Kvinge was transferred to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, where he was in critical condition.

His dad was in “satisfactory” condition Monday, CGH staff said.

Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies were called to 204 N. Main St. around 12:17 a.m. The two-story home was fully engulfed in flames.

Marc Kvinge smelled smoke, ran across the street and asked a neighbor to call 911, Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi said.

Milton Kvinge was able to make it to the front door and his son helped him outside. Doris Kvinge was found lying near the back porch door, Wilhelmi said.

The state fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. No foul play is suspected at this time, he said.

The roof and second floor collapsed, and the stucco house is a “complete loss,” he said.

The family is originally from the Chicago-area; Doris and Milton Kvinge have lived in Coleta for 15 years, Wilhelmi said.

Firefighters from Coleta, Milledgeville, Chadwick, Polo, Morrison, Sterling, Rock Falls, Shannon, Lanark, and Tampico responded.