Residential Fire Kills Man, 67, In Wheaton

WHEATON, IL — A Wheaton man was found deceased after a fire broke out in his home Saturday morning. Fire crews arrived at the home in the 1000 block of S. Gables at approximately 8:30 a.m. to battle the blaze. According to a release from the village, Joseph Shimkus, 67, was found dead inside the home, possibly from smoke inhalation.

When the Wheaton Fire Department arrived, smoke was coming from the roof of the home. They entered the home and battled the blaze inside living room. Officials say excessive storage in the home hampered efforts, but that with the help of neighboring fire departments, fire crews were able to extinguish the fire within minutes.

Shimkus's apparent cause of death was smoke inhalation, the release said, but the DuPage County Coroner's Office is conducting an examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Wheaton Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

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