Woman killed in Bartlett fire ID'd
The DuPage County Coroner's Office has identified the woman killed in a Bartlett house fire Saturday as 95-year-old Maura Wills, a resident of the home.
State and local authorities are investigating what sparked Saturday's fatal fire, but officials do not believe the cause is suspicious.
Firefighters from the Bartlett Fire Protection District got to the residence in the 500 block of Litchfield Lane about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and found heavy flames, heat, and smoke, with flames spread to the second floor and attic, according to the fire district.
A bystander alerted firefighters that someone was still inside the home, and firefighters went inside and located Wills, who was found dead in a first-floor bedroom. Investigators believe the fire started in the room where she was found.
Joe Grimaldi, who lives across the street, said he and his son saw the fire coming out of the house's front windows.
They ran across the street and into the garage, which had been opened, Grimaldi said. Then, they tried opening the door to enter the house, he said.
"It was hot," Grimaldi said. "There was black smoke coming out of there. I yelled, 'Is anybody in there?' hoping somebody would be by the door where we could get them."
Nobody responded, he said, and fire officials and paramedics were on the scene moments later.
Firefighters had the blaze under control at about 12:30 p.m.
"Fire crews aggressively attacked the fire and quickly found the unconscious victim," Fire Chief Michael Falese said. "This fire was evident that today's fires burn quicker and hotter than in the past due to furniture material, energy tight homes, and lightweight construction."
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is leading the investigation into the fire, assisted by the Bartlett Fire Protection District, Bartlett police and the DuPage County Coroner.
"We do not have any reason to believe there was anything suspicious at this time," Batallion Chief David Misner said Sunday.
Damage to the home and its contents is estimated at $1 million.
Assisting the Bartlett Fire Protection in battling the blaze were firefighters from Addison, Hanover Park, Streamwood, South Elgin, East Dundee, West Dundee, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Pingree Grove and Elgin.