Community rallying to help those displaced by Bensenville fire
As many as 40 Bensenville residents will have to find temporary housing for Thanksgiving, and possibly far beyond, as a result of an early morning fire Sunday that ripped through an apartment building, killing one man.
The DuPage County coroner's office on Monday identified the man as Steven M. Nelson, 64, ABC 7 Chicago reported.
Community efforts to assist those displaced by the fire already have begun, Fire Chief Mike Spain said Monday.
Spain said the fire department, the village and the Bensenville Foundation are teaming to collect gift cards and money to help victims with some essentials. The gift cards and donations can be dropped off through Dec. 4 at department headquarters at 500 S. York Road.
"Ideally we'll gather all donations and disperse them equally among all who have been affected," Spain said. "But if someone needs help earlier, we'll work something out."
Anyone with questions about donations is asked to call Spain directly at (630) 594-1184.
Spain said Grace Lutheran Church, 950 S. York Road, also has extended an invitation to all fire victims to join its Thanksgiving Eve dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. An outgoing message on the church voicemail asks that anyone wishing to attend call (630) 766-3030 and reserve a seat.
A gofundme page has been set up by friends of a couple who lost everything in the fire.
Spain said firefighters from the Bensenville Fire Protection District responded to the blaze at 361 Marshall Road about 6:15 a.m. They found Nelson about 9:55 a.m., and the coroner declared him dead at the scene in the afternoon, ABC 7 reported.
"The fire was fully involved at that time," Spain said. "It had already gone through the roof and there were active flames coming out both windows."
The fire destroyed the roof of the three-story building, which is part of a 10-building apartment complex, and gutted several of the top-floor units.
Spain said the building is uninhabitable.
Investigators were still working to determine the cause of the fire late Monday, but Spain said they believe it originated in the third-story unit occupied by the deceased man.