Update: Woman, 59, found dead in Civic Plaza 1 fire in Rock Falls

ROCK FALLS – A 59-year-old woman was found dead during a fire at Civic Plaza 1 Friday night that also prompted the evacuation of more than 100 residents, Whiteside County Coroner Joe McDonald said.

The woman’s name is being withheld until her family is notified; an autopsy will be done.

The state fire marshal’s office, Rock Falls Police and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services is investigating.

Firefighters found the woman when they responded to a call around 9:46 p.m. to the 9-story high rise at 1101 Fifth Ave., Rock Fall Police Chief Dave Pilgrim said in a news release this morning.

Jim Schultz, who lives on the top floor of the nine-story high rise at 1101 Fifth Ave., home to more than 100 elderly, disabled and low-income residents, said he and others were evacuated down the stairs, some carried by firefighters.

Schultz said he doesn’t know what caused the fire or exactly where it started, but said it seemed to be coming up through the center of the building and may have caused windows on the fifth floor to blow out. Flames and smoke could be seen shooting out the windows, he said.

Schultz, who has lived at Civic Plaza 1 about 7 years, had to leave needed medication behind and is hoping he will be able to retrieve it sometime Saturday. Firefighters did go back for his oxygen, he said.

In the meantime, he will be staying with his son, Kyle, he said.

Other displaced residents were taken to the Rock Falls Community Building to await other arrangements.

Civic Plaza 1 has 140 units and is owned by the Whiteside County Housing Authority.

Whiteside County United Way reminds its residents that it can provide free, confidential help with food, disaster assistance, crisis counseling, health care, housing and more, and translation services are available. Call 2-1-1, text at 898-211, or go to www.findhelp211.org for information.

Editor’s note: Jim Schultz is reporter Kathleen A. Schultz’s brother.


Kathleen Schultz

Kathleen A. Schultz

Kathleen Schultz is a Sterling native with 40 years of reporting and editing experience in Arizona, California, Montana and Illinois.