Woman killed, husband, firefighter injured in Streamwood house fire: family

STREAMWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- A woman was killed and her husband injured in a fire in Streamwood Thursday morning, family said.

Firefighters responded at about 4:48 a.m. to the 100-block of Southwood Circle and found heavy fire and smoke from the first and second floors of a two-story home.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Two people were located and one was pronounced dead at the scene, the fire department said. The other person was taken to the hospital.

"I kept hearing, 'Help me, help me,' and I opened the screen door to my bedroom window. And I saw the flames and the police were already down the street," Julie Siegel said.

A firefighter also had minor injuries, the fire department said.

The home sustained significant damage.

Relatives surveyed the damage later Thursday.

They identified the woman killed as Mudrika Dave. She was found upstairs, family said.

Her husband, Suresh, was apparently able to escape from the upstairs window with the help of a neighbor who brought over a ladder.

SEE ALSO: West Side fire leaves 1 dead, 2 injured, including 4-year-old, Chicago police say

He was hospitalized, and friends visited him Thursday morning.

"He's sad he couldn't save her. He grabbed her hand, but it somehow slipped through," friend Jagmohan Jayara said.

Friends say Suresh is a longtime chef at India House restaurant in Hoffman Estates.

"I was feeling bad because all the time we have been together. I'm shocked. I don't have words," friend Bilit Mehta said.

Friends say Mudrika Dave did not work. They say the couple usually woke early for morning prayer, and they were likely up when the fire started Thursday morning.

Fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause

"It's still under investigation, but we do not have any indications that it's suspicious. It seems to be accidental," Streamwood Fire Chief Michael Meyer said.

The state fire marshal is heading up the investigation.

Officials believe the fire started on the first floor, while the victims were on the second floor.