Man found dead, Chicago firefighter injured in South Side house fire

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man was found dead and a Chicago firefighter was injured after a house fire on the South Side Thursday morning, CFD said.

Firefighter received a call of a house fire in the area of 105th Street and Normal Avenue at about 5:44 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke on the second floor.

A man in his 60s, later identified as James Dyer, 68, was found dead in a bedroom. A firefighter was injured after falling through a hole in the floor and was transported to Advocate Christ Hospital in stable condition.

Sandra Taylor feared her nephew was the man firefighters found dead inside the home. Taylor lives next door and first realized something was wrong when she heard commotion outside.

"I just saw all the smoke and I just saw the firemen busting out windows And I saw the chair right here come out the window and I said 'Oh my God,'" Taylor said.

Fire officials said they found a smoke detector which may not have been working.

The fire department reminds Chicagoans that during the COVID-19 pandemic, smoke detectors are all the more important.

"Everyone is in their homes now together," Chicago Fire Deputy District Chief Walter Schroeder said. "We have to make sure those things are working along with your carbon monoxide detectors."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.