Crime & Safety

Man Dies in House Fire in Neighboring Evanston

Fred Davis, 65, died at the hospital from injuries suffered in a fire that broke out at 1937 Hartrey Ave. in neighboring Evanston on Wednesday night. No one else was inside the house, fire officials said.

Update, 1:30 pm Thursday:

Fred Davis, 65, died after a fire broke out at his home at 1937 Hartrey Ave. in Evanston last night, according to Division Chief Dwight Hohl.

Davis was a retired city sanitation worker, according to neighbor Kelly Young. He also volunteered for years delivering food from the pantry at nearby Friendship Baptist Church to several food pantries in the area, Young said.

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"He was a nice person," she said. "He'd help you if he could."

Original story:

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One man died after a fire broke out in a northwest Evanston home, authorities say. 

The blaze appeared to have started on the first floor of the two-story home at 1937 Hartrey Ave. around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to Division Chief Dwight Hohl. One man in his sixties was transported to the hospital in critical condition with second and third degree burns, Hohl said. He died shortly afterwards at the hospital, according to Hohl. His name is not being released while fire officials notify his family.

There were no other occupants in the house at the time the fire broke out, and no one else was injured. The side of the house next door to the fire sustained some damage from heat radiation, according to Hohl, but the residents were not evacuated.

Hohl said the cause of the fire was still under investigation and that the fire department had notified the state fire marshall's office, which is called in whenever there is a death in a fire.

"We were able to get it under control relatively quick," he said. "Of course with fires, you always have to check for other hidden fires."

Fire departments from eight different communities responded to the blaze, he said.

Neighbor Kelly Young said she was impressed with how quickly the fire trucks arrived. 

"They were here johnny on the spot," she said. 

Editor's Note: This story was updated with further details at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday night.


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