2ND UPDATE: Coroner ID’s 4-Year-Old Who Died in Townhouse Fire
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
3PM FRIDAY UPDATE
The Kane County Coroner’s Office has identified the 4-year-old girl who died Wednesday afternoon in a tragic townhouse fire on the West Side of Aurora.
Ryan Elizabeth March was pronounced deceased at 2:27 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 27, 2019), according to a March 1 Coroner’s Office news release.
Preliminary findings said the cause of death was smoke inhalation.
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
Fire officials said a 25-year-old woman and a 5-month-old girl were burned and suffered smoke inhalation in the fire that took place at around 1:57 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 27, 2019) at the four-unit townhouse located in the 1800 block of Carnation Court, according to Aurora fire officials.
The woman and 5-month-old were initially treated on the scene and transported to a local hospital, then airlifted to Loyola Hospital, fire officials said.
When firefighters arrived, the building already was engulfed in smoke and flames, according to a Fire Department news release.
“Incoming Fire Department units were able to see a large plume of smoke from several blocks away,” Aurora Fire Marshal Javan Cross said.
Two residents were met outside of the structure and immediately given aid and transported to a local hospital, the release said.
A rescue was attempted after firefighters received a report of a trapped occupant. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire and were forced to fight the fire from the exterior before entering the burning home. Multiple hose lines were used to extinguish the fire.
The fire was upgraded to a third alarm, bringing additional help to control the fire and keep it from spreading to additional units.
A total of 43 firefighters arrived on the scene with additional help from North Aurora.
One firefighter was injured during the incident. The firefighter was treated on the scene, transported to an area hospital, and then released. The estimated fire loss is $500,000 leaving the building uninhabitable.
The fire started in a first floor living room, officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
SOURCE: Aurora Fire Department
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
