Woman, pets killed in house fire in Brookfield

A 59-year-old woman and several pets died early Thursday after a fire broke out in her west suburban Brookfield home.

Officers responding to a fire in the 3600 block of Arden Avenue about 5:10 p.m. found heavy smoke coming from the house and were told by neighbors there may have been an elderly person inside, according to a statement from Brookfield police.

Officers tried to get into the house by kicking in the front door, but there were several items stacked in front of it from the inside, police said. They then attempted to gain entry through another door, but it was locked from the inside.

Firefighters eventually got in and Carol L. Norton was pulled from the burning house, authorities said.

She was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where she was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m. Thursday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy found she died of carbon monoxide toxicity and thermal injuries, along with inhalation of products of combustion. Her death was ruled an accident.

Police said two dogs and two cats were also killed in the house fire. Norton’s 61-year-old husband was not injured in the blaze.