Man Dead After Westlawn Fire
Updated 01/14/12 - 10:30 p.m.
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A Saturday morning fire on the Southwest Side that claimed the life of a 60-year-old man was believed to be suspicious and the investigation has been turned over to police, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
The man -- identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office as 60-year-old James Maca -- had been seen at the window of the two-story building at 4246 W. 63rd St. calling for help after a blaze started about 4:40 a.m., according to Fire Media Affairs.
Firefighters located him close to the door of his apartment after he apparently succumbed to the smoke, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.
Maca was pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. at Holy Cross Hospital, the medical examiner's office said.
There were two apartments in the building, both on the second floor, Langford said. The fire was in the rear apartment, but no one was in that apartment at the time. Smoke from the fire traveled down the hallway that runs between the two apartments, Langford said.
An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, the medical examiner's office said.
Smoke detectors in the building were working.
The Office of Fire Investigations found the blaze suspicious and the investigation has been turned over to the police Bomb and Arson Unit, according to Fire Media.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
