An adult male died in a fire at a River Forest townhome early Tuesday, Oct. 13, after heavy smoke and flames trapped him inside.
Fire crews responded to 1430 N. Harlem Ave. around 12:45 a.m. and found thick black smoke and flames coming from the north side of the basement and first floor, Fire Chief Thomas Gaertner said in a written statement, first reported by the Wednesday Journal. Two residents were inside the building at the time.
Police officers attempted to enter but were driven back by the intense heat and smoke.
One resident jumped from the second story to escape. That person was treated and released at the scene. The second resident was not able to get out. Firefighters entering the building found the adult male and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to a Village of River Forest press release.
The man was "overcome by the intense heat and smoke from the fire," Gaertner wrote.
His identity has not been released. The village's press release, updated at 8 a.m. Tuesday, said no further information was available. It is unclear whether next-of-kin notification has been completed.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office responded to the scene along with several neighboring fire departments. The village has not specified which agencies assisted. The River Forest Fire Department participates in MABAS Division 11, a regional mutual aid network, according to the department's annual report.
Two families have been displaced by the fire. Gaertner asked the public to respect the privacy of the victim's family during the investigation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No timeline for results has been announced.
