UPDATE: A person of interest was in custody as of Thursday morning, Chicago police said. Our latest story can be found here. Our original story continues below.
Chicago fire officials say the blaze that led to the death of a longtime department captain was deliberately set.
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WATCH HEREA spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department said that an investigation has revealed the blaze that led to the death of 54-year-old Captain David Meyer was started “by human action,” and that the matter is now being handled as a criminal investigation.
According to a statement, the city’s Office of Fire Investigation, with assistance from the ATF, determined the fire was caused by “ignition of contents of a trash bin by human action.”
Earlier Wednesday, fire officials said there have been multiple reports of trash can fires in the area recently.
Meyer, a 28-year veteran of the department, died at Stroger Hospital after the fire in the Austin neighborhood, leaving behind a wife, three daughters and a son.
Local
The fire began at approximately 4:15 a.m. in a garage in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street. At approximately 5:40 a.m., a mayday call was issued.
"Companies were outside the garage starting salvage and overhaul when the garage collapsed," Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said during a press conference Wednesday.
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SIGN UP Meyer was rushed to Stroger, where he was pronounced dead Wednesday morning.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called Meyer "a hero, courageous, brave and bold."
"This is a tremendous loss for the Meyer family, for the Chicago Fire Department and the entire city of Chicago... this is truly a remarkable testament of those who love this city and those who are willing to pay this sacrifice to keep us all safe," he said.
