CHRISTOPHER, IL — A City of Christopher firefighter lost his life in the line of duty during a multi-alarm commercial building fire early Sunday morning in Christopher.

According to a post on the Firefighters Volunteers Facebook page, Firefighter Kody Vanfossan died from injuries he received. Vanfossen’s father was also inside the building fighting the fire. He was injured and treated.

Seventeen fire departments and six police departments assisted in battling the two-story structure fire in a vacant furniture store located at 118 West Market Street around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. No one was inside when the fire started.

It’s not known at this time how the fire started, but a stairwell collapsed with firefighters in that location. A “Mayday” was issued after the stairwell fell.

The fire remains under investigation.