Jan. 20--Investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire that killed a homeowner in west suburban Berwyn on Sunday.
Kevin Jatczak, 54, was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m. at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn afer the fire in the 3800 block of Grove Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. After an autopsy Monday, the office determined Jatczak died from inhalation of smoke and soot in the house fire, but the manner of his death was pending further investigation.
Berwyn firefighters, called to the home about 2:20 p.m., found fire throughout the building, said Berwyn fire Chief Denis O'Halloran. Because of the extent of the fire, crews attacked the blaze from the outside until they were able to douse the fire enough to get inside and search, he said.
Inside, they found Jatczak, who was taken to MacNeal and was dead on arrival, O'Halloran said.
The fire appears to have started in the first-floor bedroom, but investigators are still trying to determine what caused it, O'Halloran said. There was no immediate reason to believe it was suspicious.
About 60 firefighters fought the blaze, and Berwyn crews were helped by crews from North Riverside, Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Stickney and Riverside, O'Halloran said.
