May fire in Des Plaines was deliberately set by a resident, officials say

A May fire at a Des Plaines condominium building that left 15 people injured was deliberately caused by a resident who later died, authorities revealed Thursday.

Taner Bayramli, 36, poured gasoline in a hallway, common areas and stairwells of the building on the 1200 block of Harding Avenue before igniting the blaze shortly before 1 a.m. May 6, Des Plaines Fire Chief Matt Matzl said during a news conference at city hall.

Surveillance video captured Bayramli filling a gasoline container with fuel at a gas station days before the fire, Matzl said.

Bayramli lived on the third floor of the three-story building, and that’s where the fire started, Matzl said. Bayramli had moved many of his possessions into his car before starting the fire, Matzl said.

Bayramli died May 21 from his injuries. Three additional adults and four children required treatment at suburban hospitals. All have been released.

Seven other people were treated at the scene.

The blaze took hours to extinguish and left all 12 units uninhabitable.

Des Plaines firefighters and police, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the fire.

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