Heating device suspected in fatal Lombard fire

An alternate heating device may have triggered an apartment fire in Lombard that left one man dead, authorities said Tuesday.

Firefighters pulled Chi Choi, 91, from his apartment at 2200 S. Grace St. after the building caught fire. The blaze at the six-story, 72-unit building was reported about 10:35 p.m. Monday.

DuPage County coroner officials said Choi was pronounced dead at 12:11 a.m. Tuesday at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

On Tuesday, Lombard Fire Department spokesman Jim Plunket said the blaze started in the living room of Choi's apartment. Officials believe an alternate heating device caused the fire.

An unconscious Choi was found surrounded by smoke and fire in his bedroom, Battalion Chief Chuck Ralis said. Firefighters carried him to the front lawn where they used cardiopulmonary resuscitation to revive him momentarily. Choi was transported to the hospital in critical condition, Ralis said.

When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they saw smoke and flames coming from unit 101, Ralis said. A maintenance worker told firefighters the man was inside.

No other tenants of the building or firefighters were injured, Ralis said. A total of 145 people were evacuated, officials said. The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes. Residents were allowed back inside about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

"There was some smoke and water damage to the first-floor apartments, but the units on either side of unit 101 were vacant," Ralis said. "There was minimal smoke and water anywhere else in the building."

Authorities estimate the fire caused about $225,000 damage to the building and contents.

Lombard was assisted by firefighters from Oak Brook, Downers Grove, York Center, Villa Park, Lisle-Woodridge, Elmhurst and Addison.

• Daily Herald Staff Writer Hafsa Naz Mahmood contributed to this report