Man dies in Calumet Heights garage fire

Gilbert Sims was found in the garage after police and firefighters responded to a blaze in the 8900 block of South Essex Avenue around 11:40 p.m., Chicago police said.

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Chicago firefighter on the scene of house fire in Belmont Cragin in January 2019.

Sun-Times file photo

A 43-year-old man died in a house fire late Sunday in the Calumet Heights neighborhood, according to the Chicago police and fire departments.

Officers and firefighters were called to a house fire in the 8900 block of South Essex Avenue around 11:40 p.m. and found flames coming from the house’s garage, Chicago police said.

Gilbert Sims was found inside the garage after firefighters extinguished the flames. Sims, who lived in the same block, was pronounced dead at 11:58 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy was scheduled for later Monday.

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