Woman Dies After Machesney Park House Fire
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Updated: 11:10 PM Nov 23, 2009
Woman Dies After Machesney Park House Fire
Last night's fire in Machesney Park has claimed the life of a 45 year-old woman and that woman's daughter tells 23 News she's suspicious that this may have been more than just a tragic fire and she's disappointed with the investigator's response time.
Posted: 9:10 AM Nov 23, 2009
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Kathleen Addams was found unresponsive by emergency crews last night around 11p.m., in her home in the 400 block of Superior Avenue.

She was taken to Rockford Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead at 2:15p.m.

Addams' daughter, Megan Freeburg, says a neighbor's surveillance tape captured someone leaving the home shortly before the fire erupted. She's also concerned with the amount of time it took emergency responders to get to the home.

North Park Police Chief Steve Pearson says that the response time was typical, if not better than usual and they found the victim within four minutes of arriving.

Fire officials believe the fire started in the attic.

The North Park Fire Department, the state fire marshall and police are investigating the cause of the blaze. They say it may be suspicious.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Jenifer Location: Loves park, Il on Nov 25, 2009 at 10:22 PM

Megan, This si Jenifer. I hung out with you , Bambi, Ren. I am sorry for your loss. I did not know. It hurts me as well to know that this happened to you and your family. I want to send my greatest reguards. I know how much your mother was when we were hanging out back in the day. Get ahold of me sometime. I look for the furnal arrangments, so I can show my respect to you and the family. It makes me want to cry, just knowing that she was at one time close to me as well when we hung out. Jenifer & Jeremy
Posted by: Jimmy Location: machesney park on Nov 25, 2009 at 04:15 PM

First of all I'm sorry for the tragic loss to the family and friends. I have an ailing wife and I have never waited 30 minutes for either an ambulance or a fire truck from North Park. The longest I have waited is 10 minutes tops. The ambulance is usually there first but they work for a private company and are not firefighters. If it was 30 minutes then that should be looked at to find a way to improve if possible. I about 4 blocks away also and I went outside to see what was going on since there was so many sirens and commotion. I noticed fire departments from different cities even like Rockton, South Beloit and many others. The whole street was completely full of fire trucks. Hopefully with your attorney you can get some answers. Do you know if the officer attempted to go in and was over powered by the smoke and left. You can't blame him for that. Whether someone knows the layout of the house or not he still has to search to find anyone in there not knowing where she is. Truly tragic.
Posted by: Jan Location: Dunedin, Florida on Nov 25, 2009 at 03:37 PM

I grew up in the house at 402 Huron Road, and now live in Florida. I've been back several times to my old neighborhood and am very disappointed in how its taken a turn for the worst. That being said, instead of writing commentaries, making accusations, start getting involved, make changes, and get public policy changed within this area. It has the potential to return to its former splendor, but until the citizens of the community start to get involved and do things, there will be no changes. Machesney Park is a village, shoestring budget, etc. You have to get up and get out and make the change. I feel terrible that someone in my old neighborhood passed away. I still know several people on both streets, and I hope they all are doing alright. Again, posting here will not make a difference. Check out when the next village meeting is and attend it. Get involved.
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