A 72-year-old man died while trying to escape from a fire Friday in West Garfield Park.
The man was identified as Edward Lemon by the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
He tried to escape but succumbed to heavy smoke after a blaze broke out about 4:45 p.m. at a home in the 4300 block of West Maypole Avenue, Chicago fire officials said.
Firefighters found the man in the back of the home and he was taken to West Suburban Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
Autopsy results released Saturday found he died from thermal and inhalation injuries from an apartment fire. His death was ruled an accident.