Contact information:
Deputy Police Chief Bill Murphy, 630-260-2076
On Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Wheaton Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 1016 S Gables. Upon arriving, personnel identified a single-family residence with smoke presenting from the roof area.
Fire Department personnel initiated an interior fire attack and extinguished a fire in the living room area of the residence within minutes. Firefighting operations were hampered by excessive storage within the residence.
During fire operations, 67-year-old resident Joseph Shimkus was found deceased. The scene was secured and turned over to the Wheaton Police Department.
It appeared Joseph Shimkus succumbed to smoke inhalation, however the precise cause of death is pending the results of a post mortem examination by the DuPage County Coroner’s Office.
The Wheaton Fire Department was assisted by several area fire departments in battling the fire. Damage estimates are currently unavailable.