An elderly woman has died in the hospital after firefighters rescued her from a house fire in Huntley earlier this month that also left two pets dead.
The Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 10:08 p.m. on February 8 to the 10700 block of Church Street in Huntley for a report of a structure fire.
The first arriving fire company found a single-story home with smoke showing from the roof of the building, according to Huntley Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Patrick Fortunato.
Firefighters completed an initial fire attack on the home using a hose line from their engine and secured water from a nearby fire hydrant.
A search for occupants was initiated in conjunction with the fire attack.
Firefighters located a female during the search of the home, Fortunato said.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman as Gail Weir, 82, of Huntley.
Weir was rescued from the home and transported to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital in critical condition.
A second hose line was deployed to the rear of the home to assist with fire extinguishment.
A second search was completed and no other occupants were found.
The fire did not extend beyond the home and was brought under control quickly, Fortunato said.
Firefighters performed overhaul operations to confirm the fire had not spread beyond the initial area.
Two family pets were also found in the home and had died. Heavy smoke damage was present throughout the house.
The home was equipped with working smoke detectors, Fortunato said.
Weir was later transferred to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, which has a burn center.
She died early Wednesday morning at the facility, the medical examiner’s office said.
The office ruled her death an accident from inhalation injuries as a result of the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and the loss estimate to the structure and contents was approximately $150,000.
Fortunato said the home was deemed uninhabitable due to the damage.