Natalie Wood

When a tree fell, a firefighter saved a life

A young tree fell in a backyard shed on a snowy day, killing a man and leaving a hole in his home, authorities said.

The tree was in a shed in a neighborhood of trees in the village of Woods, about 75 miles southwest of Chicago, in the mountains of northwest Illinois, said the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

An investigator found the tree on a porch with no damage to the structure and said it could have been the victim of a home invasion.

Woods Fire Chief Steve Anderson said the victim, 29-year-old Richard Williams, was a wood stovemaker and had been working with his family on a wood project.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of death has not been determined.

Investigators said Williams was not in the shed when the tree fell.

He was the son of a neighbor and was a part-time firefighter, the sheriff’s office said.

Williams’ death is under investigation, the fire department said.