Woman found dead following apartment fire Wednesday in Woodstock

A woman was found dead following an apartment fire Wednesday afternoon in Woodstock, and while the fire remains under investigation, it is not thought to be suspicious, Woodstock police said.

The Woodstock Police Department and Woodstock Fire/Rescue District were dispatched at 1:43 p.m. Wednesday to an apartment complex in the 500 block of McHenry Avenue in reference to a structure fire, according to separate news releases from the two agencies.

Firefighters arrived within 3 minutes of the call and confirmed smoke was showing from the first floor of the apartment complex, the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District said in the release.

Using water from a nearby hydrant, firefighters attacked the fire in a first-floor apartment unit, according to the release. Heavy smoke conditions were reported inside the unit, but the fire was considered under control within 10 minutes.

While firefighters extinguished the fire, police officers evacuated residents from the rest of complex, according to both agencies.

A woman was found deceased inside the first-floor apartment where the fire originated, according to the Woodstock Police Department.

Fire and smoke damage was contained to that apartment, but firefighters ventilated the entire building of smoke before allowing residents to return to their apartments, according to the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District. Initial damage estimates are about $100,000 and no other residents have been displaced because of the fire.

Preliminary investigations indicate the fire began in the living room, but at this time, the fire is not considered suspicious in nature, the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting with the fire investigation and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office is assisting the Woodstock Police Department’s Investigation Division with the death investigation, according to Woodstock police.

The identity of the woman is not being released pending family notification, according to the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.

The identification of the deceased is not being released at this time pending family notifications.