Fatal Winnetka House Fire Breaks Out In Bedroom

WINNETKA, IL — One resident died after a fire broke out in her bedroom while she was home alone Friday evening in Winnetka. At 7:20 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to the 600 block of Garland Avenue for a 911 call from a resident who reported that "her bed was on fire," according to Winnetka Fire Department Chief Alan Berkowsky.

Fire crews arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from the second-floor bedroom. Firefighters headed upstairs and extinguished the fire within about 10 minutes from the initial call, Berkowsky said.

While the blaze was restricted to the bedroom of the residence, the resident could not be rescued.

The cause of the fire in the historic residence was not immediately apparent, according to Berkowsky.The Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office was on scene investigating the incident, as with all fatal fires. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as the homeowner, 82-year-old Susan Garland.