Deadly Keeneyville blaze started on front porch, officials say

Investigators still have not discovered the cause of a house fire that killed two people and injured four others Monday in Keeneyville, but they have pinpointed where the blaze began.

Bloomingdale Fire Chief David Christensen said flames originated on the southeast corner of the front porch of the two-story home.

"Everything we're looking at still points to an accident," he said Wednesday.

It's unclear if the home was equipped with smoke detectors or had code violations, he said, since it was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Steven Elliott, 32, and Lori Ann Breese, 37, both were killed while trying to escape the flames inside the home at 24W630 Lawrence Ave. The house is southeast of Gary Avenue and Lake Street in Bloomingdale.

The DuPage County coroner's office said preliminary autopsy results reveal Breese died of traumatic head injuries suffered while attempting to escape the blaze. She struggled to exit from a second-floor window, officials said.

Elliott, who tried to flee from a basement window, died of thermal injuries and inhaling combustibles, officials said.

Also injured in the blaze were Cesar L. Euan, who authorities say lived in the home; Edith L. Hernandez of Bolingbrook; Breese's 11-year-old daughter, Tiffany; and her a 5-year-old son, Matthew.

Euan was taken to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood and was released. The other three were taken to Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in Glendale Heights and later released.

The children's grandmother, Marjorie Breese of Florida, said they were with her and Breese's sister, Susan, in DuPage County on Tuesday.

Visitation for Breese will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, followed by a funeral service at the Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State St., Geneva. Interment will be private. Memorials may be made to the family. For details, call (630) 232-8233.

Visitation for Elliott, who also leaves behind a son in Missouri, will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, with an 8 p.m. funeral service at Steuerle Funeral Home, 350 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park. For details, call (630) 832-4161.