Lake Bluff Resident Rescued from His Burning Home; Cause Still Under Investigation

Lake Bluff resident Kevin Westre is recovering at Lake Forest Hospital after being rescued from his burning home early Sunday morning by Lake Bluff police officers.

While on patrol at 3:59 a.m., officer Damon Schmidt observed smoke coming from the area of East Woodland Road. Upon reaching 11 E. Woodland Road, the residence was fully engulfed in flames.

Schmidt exited his vehicle with a fire extinguisher and responded to the front door attempting to put the flames out and make entry to make sure that the home was unoccupied. By this time, Lake Bluff police officers James Reynolds and Thomas Vinson arrived on the scene, and the three began to check the outside of the building looking for a place to make entry. Each officer used squad vehicle fire extinguishers attempting to extinguish the fire.

Schmidt used a battering ram to force open the residence's door on the southeast side of the building, and heard a sound coming from inside the room. Schmidt crawled inside the burning structure and located Westre by his feet.

Reynolds responded to Schmidt's call for assistance and the two officers removed the resident from the burning structure. They began to initiate CPR on Westre, who registered a high carbon monoxide level in his body. By that time, Lake Bluff Fire Department and paramedics from Lake Forest arrived and provided assistance. Westre was then transported to Lake Forest Hospital.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Lake Bluff Police Chief Bill Gallagher.

For their efforts, the three officers will receive letters of commendation at the Feb. 28 Village Board meeting.