A resident of a River Forest apartment building was pronounced dead early Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in the basement of a structure, fire officials said.
At about 12:45 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire alert at a building on the 1400 block of North Harlem Avenue, where they saw thick black smoke pouring from the basement and first floor on the north side of the structure. Police attempted to save a victim but were pushed back by intense heat and smoke, officials said.
There were two residents inside the home when the blaze erupted, one of whom was checked out by paramedics and released. The other resident was overcome by the blaze and was pronounced dead, officials said.
Several neighboring towns helped battle the blaze, and the state fire marshal was called to the scene to investigate.
Further information on the fatal fire will be released in the coming days, officials said.