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Investigation continues into fatal Niles fire
Updated: December 30, 2012 6:09AM
NILES — It may take another few months to determine the cause of a fire that took the life of a 91-year-old man at a Niles assisted-living facility, according to officials.
Niles Fire Chief Steve Borkowski said private fire investigators are currently working on collecting more information about what started the Nov. 16 fire at The Park at Golf Mill.
Seymour B. Cohen died as a result of injuries from the fire that occurred inside his apartment at 8975 Golf Rd., Niles Police said.
At about 12:33 p.m. the Niles Police and Fire Departments responded to the facility for a call about the fire in room 808.
Police said a witness found Cohen in the kitchen of his apartment with injuries to his arm and leg from the fire, according to the Niles Police Department. The witness reportedly called 911 and tried to put the fire out using a fire extinguisher.
“The building was evacuated until the fire was struck about 20 minutes later,” Niles Police said. Firefighters from the North Maine, Glenview and Des Plaines Police Departments were called to assist.
Cohen was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and then transferred to the Loyola Medical Center Burn Unit in Maywood where he later died.
Andrea Turner, spokeswoman for Brookdale Senior Living which operates The Park at Golf Mill, said damage from the fire was limited to one apartment.
“There is a lingering smoke smell that still remains, but will dissipate over time,” she said last week.
