2 die in Christmas week fires in Elgin

The Elgin Fire Department said it responded to four total fires on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

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Ambulance hospital emergency file photo

The Elgin Fire Department responded to two fatal fires on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Sun-Times file

Two men died in separate fires last week over the Christmas holiday in Elgin in the western suburbs.

The first fatal fire happened Christmas Eve at a townhome in the first block of Creekside Circle, the Elgin Fire Department said in a statement.

The victim was identified as 56-year-old Douglas Hagen by the Kane County coroner’s office.

Firefighters were called about 6:30 a.m. and found a heavy fire on the second floor, the department said. Crews found Hagen in the building and took him in critical condition to Sherman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hagen was the only victim of the fire, which damaged four townhome units with an estimated loss of $300,000, the department said.

Hagen’s autopsy results were pending the results of carbon monoxide tests, the coroner’s office said.

The second blaze started about 2 p.m. Christmas Day and claimed the life of a 74-year-old man, whose name has not been released.

Crews were called to the fire at a townhome in the 1200 block of Bradley Circle and were told the home’s only resident was still inside, the department said.

The 74-year-old was found “quickly” but did not survive his injuries, the department said. The townhome unit was a total loss, and four adjacent units were damaged by smoke.

The causes of each fire remain under investigation.

Firefighters in Elgin responded to four fires on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the department said. The department responds on average to one fire per week.

“Our crews have been very busy this holiday week, including four working fires in residential structures within the past two days,” the fire department said in a statement posted on social media. “Unfortunately, these fires have resulted in two separate adult fatalities, numerous residents displaced, and significant property damage.”

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