CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
A smoldering cigarette appears to have caused a fire that killed a 78-year-old woman and her 59-year-old son Tuesday afternoon in their south suburban Park Forest home, fire officials said.
Julia Markeo, 78, and Darrell Nelson, 59, both of a home in the 0-100 block of Ash Street in Park Forest died of carbon monoxide, smoke and soot inhalation and careless use of smoking materials, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. The deaths were ruled accidental.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at 2:07 p.m. Tuesday and found smoke was coming from the home, Park Forest Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Ziegle said.
Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze in the living room, then headed upstairs where they were told their may be a victim. A second team of firefighters went into the townhouse and found a female by the front door. Neither had a pulse nor was breathing, Ziegle said.
They were taken to St. James Hospital and Health Centers in Chicago Heights, where they were pronounced dead about 3 p.m., according to the medical examiner's office.
The fire was small and contained to a corner of the living room, where the TV was on, Ziegle said. The son was in an upstairs bedroom. It is believed both were sleeping and unaware of the fire, which had been burning for some time, he said. Smoke detectors were not working.
The structure is a six-unit townhouse, but only the one unit was damaged, he said.
Two firefighters suffered strained backs, but did not need to be hospitalized, Ziegle said.
This is the second fatal fire in Park Forest in three months. The first was in April, according to Ziegle.
