Lake Forest Man Found Dead After Trash Fire Identified

LAKE FOREST, IL — The Lake Forest man who died Friday at hospital following a trash fire has been identified as 71-year-old Denis Specketer, authorities said.

Fire crews got a life alert call from a house in the 200 block of Noble Avenue shortly after 1 a.m., according to the Lake Forest Fire Department and the Lake County Coroner's Office.

Police reported seeing smoke through a first-floor window, and firefighters arrived to find light smoke in the house and Specketer lying unresponsive on the floor about 15 feet from the entrance, according the shift commander's report.

"No other occupants were in the home and the fire was determined to already be out," Lt. Andrew Rick reported. "Crews were able to restore pulses on the victim, and he was taken to Lake Forest Hospital under Advanced Lifecare Support, where the victim remained under hospital care."

Specketer was pronounced dead at Lake Forest Hospital shortly before 8 p.m., according Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton. A coroner's office pathologist completed an examination of his body Tuesday and is awaiting further records from the hospital.

"Though preliminary examination results are consistent with a fire related death, cause of death is pending further testing and toxicology studies," Newton said.