1st Of 2 Highland Park House Fire Victims Identified

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The first of two victims from an early morning house fire Wednesday has been identified. Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper said that 77-year-old Elaine Gassick, a Highland Park resident, was found dead after the fire was extinguished. A man also died in the fire but has not yet been identified, according to the coroner.

"The investigation into the exact cause of death, as well as the cause of the fire, is ongoing," Cooper said. “Ms. Gassick’s family has been notified and our deepest condolences go out to them."

Firefighters were called to the 2000 block of Kipling Lane at 1:13 a.m. Wednesday. They arrived to find the two-story house engulfed in flames but could not enter due to heavy smoke.

Fire crews from Highland Park and 10 other departments extinguished the fire by around 3 a.m.

The roof of the house had collapsed, and two bodies were found inside. The coroner arrived on scene a few hours later and removed the victims around 8:20 a.m. before performing autopsies later that morning.

Highland Park Fire Chief Larry Amidei said collaboration with neighboring departments allowed firefighters to contain the house to the single corner lot.

“We are appreciative of the swift response and collaboration of all agencies involved and deeply saddened by the loss of life," he said.

More: An elderly couple is presumed dead after a fire in Highland Park early Wednesday morning