Woman, 39, Dies In Aurora Apartment Fire: FD

AURORA, IL — A woman, 39, died Monday afternoon after a fire started in an apartment unit in the 900 block of North Avenue, Aurora Fire Department officials said.

The Kane County Coroner's Office is scheduled to conduct an autopsy Wednesday to determine the woman's exact cause and manner of death. Investigators do not suspect foul play and said the fire appears to have been accidental, according to a Tuesday afternoon news release.

Twelve firefighters responded to the four-story apartment complex at 2:15 p.m. Monday to find residents evacuating. The unit that was ablaze was located on the second floor on the west end of the building.

A small fire burned in the apartment, filling it with "smoke and moderate heat." Officials said crews found the woman dead in the unit.

The apartment was deemed uninhabitable. The fire department is working with the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office to investigate the incident.

"Our hearts go out to the family of the victim," Aurora Fire Chief David McCabe said in a statement. "We are working closely with the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Coroner to understand how this tragic incident occurred. Even a small fire can have heartbreaking consequences, particularly when someone faces serious health or mobility challenges."