fatal fire in Joliet « chicagoareafire.com

Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:

The East Joliet Fire Protection District confirms lightning caused a smoky fire that killed an 85-year-old man Raymond Ziegler’s in Joliet.

“During the weather that we were having, the severity of the lightning it just hit and took the house with it,” said Deputy Fire Chief Matt Grohar, East Joliet Fire Protection District.

Neighbors told firefighters when they arrived that Ziegler lived alone in the home.

“There was furniture and many other obstacles that were in the house at the time which compromised getting in and success maneuvering inside,” Grohar said.

After a second search, firefighters found Ziegler. They said he died from smoke inhalation. He was a Korean War Veteran and had nine great grandchildren.

Tags: Deputy Fire Chief Matt Grohar, East Joliet Fire Protection District, fatal fire in Joliet, hoarder house burns in Joliet, Raymond Ziegler

Excerpts from the Herald-news.com:

The Joliet Fire Department was dispatched at 10:37 p.m. Saturday to a home in the 2900 block of Sun Valley Court in Joliet, according to department Battalion Chief Laroy Aldridge. The residence has a Plainfield mailing address but is in Joliet city limits.

When firefighters arrived at the house, a person who was found to be a basement tenant was at the driveway and told ~~responders~~ firefighters there were two people inside, Aldridge said.

Crews found a man on the first floor who was pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m. at the scene, according to the Will County Coroner’s Office. A woman found on the second floor was taken to the emergency room of Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where she was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:30 p.m.

Firefighters found smoke and fire on the first floor, but Aldridge said the damage was moderate and contained to the living room.

Joliet Chief of Police Brian Benton said in a statement that a preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire was accidental, possibly due to candles burning in the home.

Tags: Battalion Chief Laroy Aldridge, fatal fire in Joliet, Joliet Fire Department, two dead after Joliet house fire