EAST ST LOUIS, Ill. (KSDK) -- An early Saturday morning house fire claims the life of a teenage boy.

Officials say the fire broke out just after 8:00 a.m. filling the house with smoke on North 79th Street.

Killed in the blaze was an unidentified 16-year-old boy. He was found in the basement.  When East St. Louis firefighters arrived there were flames shooting from the windows.  Firefighters made the initial entry into the home shortly after arriving.

There were three adults and two children who lived in this home, but they were out of the home when firefighters arrived.

It took firefighters a little over two hours to control the fire.  The house is destroyed.  No word on the cause of the blaze, but the Illinois State Fire Marshall is investigating.

NewsChannel 5 will bring you more information as it becomes available.

KSDK