A second fire in two months has claimed the life of a Waukegan resident. A woman, age 42, died in a fire at the Cinnamon Lake Towers apartment building Saturday night. The fatal fire follows a fire that killed a 38 year-old man in an apartment house in Waukegan on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
Firefighters and paramedics from the Waukegan Fire Department and Waukegan police officers responded about 7:45 p.m. Saturday, December 16, 2023 to an activated fire alarm, and then multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a fire at the Cinnamon Lake Towers apartment building at 2725 West Glen Flora Avenue in Waukegan. A Door Dash guy reported called 9-1-1, and reported that someone was dying in an apartment unit. The 9-1-1 operator also heard a fire alarm sounding in the background of the 9-1-1 call. The fire department response was immediately updated to a Working Still for a confirmed fire at 7:44 p.m.
Apartment residents that were evacuating encountering heavy smoke in a stairwell. Firefighters were assigned to rescue people from the stairwell. Callers also reported they needed help on floors 5-7 in the 7-story apartment building.
Waukegan Fire Engine 3’s crew on arrival reported smoke showing, and then firefighters found heavy flames coming from a first-floor apartment.
Fire command requested a MABAS Box Alarm 16-2 by 7:50 p.m.
While extinguishing the fire in the apartment unit, firefighters discovered a deceased adult female in the apartment where the fire originated.
The fire was extinguished, and the MABAS Box Alarm was struck out by 8:10 p.m.
The fire was contained to the apartment unit where the fire started.
Firefighters continued to work to ventilate smoke from the rest of the apartment building, and tested the air to make sure it was safe to re-enter the building. Later on Saturday night some residents were allowed to re-enter the building.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to the scene.
According to the Lake County Coroner’s Office, the deceased was tentatively identified as a 42-year-old Waukegan woman. Further details on her identity will be released once scientific identification, through dental records, has been completed. On Monday, December 18, 2023, an autopsy was completed at the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that the death is consistent with inhalation of products of combustion (smoke inhalation) as a result of the fire. Toxicology testing, including Carbon Monoxide, is pending.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Waukegan Fire Department, Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, and the Waukegan Police Department. Fire damage is estimated to be at least $200,000.
RELATED NEWS …
CARDINAL NEWS | Man Found Dead in Apartment House Fire on Grand Ave, Waukegan
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
Please ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
20240105-1435future
THANKS FOR READING CARDINAL NEWS