On Tuesday August 13, 2024 at 3:42am the Hillsboro Fire Department received a
report of a structure fire located on Vandalia Rd. in Hillsboro. Hillsboro Police along
with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and located a
structure at 1426 Vandalia Rd. on fire with heavy flames and smoke coming from the house. Additional police units were requested for traffic control. Assistance was
provided from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Litchfield Police, Illinois State
Police and Illinois Department of Transportation, Hillsboro Auxiliary Police, Hillsboro Street Department and Hillsboro Area Ambulance. A detour was created so fire personnel could work safely to extinguish the fire. Fire personnel entered the
residence and located the occupant of the residence inside, Ron L. Sanford 59 was
pronounced deceased at the scene at 4:02am by Montgomery County Coroner
Randy Leetham. The fire remains under investigation by the Hillsboro Fire
Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. A forensic autopsy was
conducted and the cause of death is being investigated by the Montgomery County
Coroner’s Office.