Man Killed In House Fire In Whiting
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man was killed early Thursday, in a fire in Whiting, Indiana.
Investigators were trying to determine the cause of a fire that started around 2 a.m. in the 1200 block of 121st Street.
Police officers driving by the home noticed heavy smoke in the house, and notified firefighters. By the time fire crews arrived, the second floor was fully engulfed in flames.
A 57-year-old man did not survive the blaze. Firefighters pulled him out of the burning house, but he later died. The Lake County Coroner's office identified him as Alan Lewandowski.
Fire Chief Gus Danielides said the fire apparently started in the center of the home. Crews had the fire under control in 45 minutes, and stopped it from spreading to neighboring homes.
"My guys did pull up, and we knew there was an individual inside, because the police notified us there was somebody inside. With all the heavy smoke, the police could not go inside. My guys, with their air, were able to do a rescue, but unfortunately the man passed," he said.
Lewandowski lived by himself. Firefighters found him in the living room on the first floor. He likely died from smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
