A woman and her dog died as a result of a house fire in Glenview Friday night, officials said in a recent news release.
The woman was identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office as Joanne Strickland, 84, of the first block of Elm Street.
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The Glenview Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire in that block around 10:20 p.m. Friday. Upon arrival, crews saw smoke coming from the chimney and the eaves around the outside of the house, officials said.
Fire crews were told by neighbors that the house was occupied. They had to force entry into the home where they were met with “heavy smoke conditions,” according to the release.
As they searched, firefighters found Strickland unresponsive on a bedroom floor. They carried her outside and began CPR.
Strickland was transported via ambulance to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she was pronounced dead at 11:02 p.m., officials said. Her official cause and manner of death are still pending, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Her dog also died from the fire and smoke conditions, authorities said. No other injuries were reported. According to fire Chief Tony DeRose, no one else had been found in the house, and they were later told that Strickland lived alone.
At the scene, Glenview crews attacked the fire with help from Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie fire departments. The fire was in the basement, first floor and into the attic, authorities said. The estimated loss from damage is unknown.
The Illinois Fire Marshal’s office is assisting the investigation, which is ongoing. The fire appeared to have started in the basement, according to DeRose, but he still didn’t know the official cause as of Monday.
As a public safety message, the fire department urged people to ensure they have working smoke detectors on every floor and in every bedroom of their homes.
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist