Post by cooter on Jan 12, 2008 13:44:56 GMT -5
Man dies, but wife survives S. Elgin fire
A barking dog and two helpful neighbors ensured a deadly fire at a South Elgin duplex early Friday morning wasn't worse.
Edwin Kudsk, 73, died as a result of the blaze at 637 Kenilworth Ave., the Kane County coroner's office said.
His wife, Rose Kudsk, was taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
The fire took nearly two hours to put out and authorities believe it was accidental.
Alfonzo Ortega, whose ranch home is connected to the Kudsks', said he woke up around 3:47 a.m. to the sound of the Kudsks' dog barking.
Ortega drifted back to sleep but awoke when Rose Kudsk asked him to call 911 because her call didn't go through.
Ortega, his wife Janet and Rose Kudsk made it outside, but Edwin Kudsk, who was recovering from cancer, had a bad hip and was on oxygen, did not.
After the trio escaped, Rose began screaming, "Ed's still in there!"
"She wanted him out of the house," said neighbor Janet Ortega. "She blames herself, but it's not her fault."
The Ortegas held Rose Kudsk back because the flames were too intense. Edwin Kudsk was found dead inside.
Flames shot through the roof and at least three oxygen tanks exploded, South Elgin Fire Chief Joe Cluchey said.
Cluchey said the fire started in the front room of the two-bedroom home, which was a total loss. He said fire did not spread to the adjoining unit and it could be inhabitable again in a few days.
"It's believed that the cause is accidental, but the exact source has yet to be determined," he said.
The duplex is on South Elgin's west side in the Orchard View subdivision.
South Elgin and Bartlett firefighters were among the crews that extinguished the blaze about 6 a.m.
An autopsy was performed Friday, but the coroner's office said the cause of death is still under investigation.
Cluchey said he was told that the home had working smoke detectors.
He added the department recently launched a grant program for seniors to obtain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Picture courtesy of Daily Herald Chicagoland
A barking dog and two helpful neighbors ensured a deadly fire at a South Elgin duplex early Friday morning wasn't worse.
Edwin Kudsk, 73, died as a result of the blaze at 637 Kenilworth Ave., the Kane County coroner's office said.
His wife, Rose Kudsk, was taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
The fire took nearly two hours to put out and authorities believe it was accidental.
Alfonzo Ortega, whose ranch home is connected to the Kudsks', said he woke up around 3:47 a.m. to the sound of the Kudsks' dog barking.
Ortega drifted back to sleep but awoke when Rose Kudsk asked him to call 911 because her call didn't go through.
Ortega, his wife Janet and Rose Kudsk made it outside, but Edwin Kudsk, who was recovering from cancer, had a bad hip and was on oxygen, did not.
After the trio escaped, Rose began screaming, "Ed's still in there!"
"She wanted him out of the house," said neighbor Janet Ortega. "She blames herself, but it's not her fault."
The Ortegas held Rose Kudsk back because the flames were too intense. Edwin Kudsk was found dead inside.
Flames shot through the roof and at least three oxygen tanks exploded, South Elgin Fire Chief Joe Cluchey said.
Cluchey said the fire started in the front room of the two-bedroom home, which was a total loss. He said fire did not spread to the adjoining unit and it could be inhabitable again in a few days.
"It's believed that the cause is accidental, but the exact source has yet to be determined," he said.
The duplex is on South Elgin's west side in the Orchard View subdivision.
South Elgin and Bartlett firefighters were among the crews that extinguished the blaze about 6 a.m.
An autopsy was performed Friday, but the coroner's office said the cause of death is still under investigation.
Cluchey said he was told that the home had working smoke detectors.
He added the department recently launched a grant program for seniors to obtain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Picture courtesy of Daily Herald Chicagoland