Electrical inspector dies after fire, explosion at home

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Updated: October 4, 2011 2:01PM

A Des Plaines city employee who died after suffering burns to almost 100 percent of his body in a fire and explosion Monday was remembered by a co-worker as someone who was kind, careful and dependable.

David Mugerditchian, 60, of 1031 Hillcrest Blvd. in Hoffman Estates, suffered burns to 96 percent of his body Monday in a fire and explosion at his home, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

“It came in at 8:20 a.m. as a report of an explosion and a fire in the backyard,” Hoffman Estates Police Sgt. Darin Felgenhauer said. “The man was found in the backyard badly burned.”

Felgenhauer said no one else was injured and Mugerditchian was initially taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, then airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. He was pronounced dead at 7:19 p.m. Monday at Loyola, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Felgenhauer said the shed had been burning but Mugerditchian was not found in the shed. It was not known how the explosion or fire started, or what Mugerditchian had been doing at the time.

Hoffman Estates Fire Chief Robert Gorvett said department personnel have completed their investigation and while the cause of the blast and fire was unknown, it has been determine to be accidental.

Investigators interviewed neighbors and the victim’s family, but Gorvett said they did not get to speak with Mugerditchian before he died.

“We don’t know what the source of the heat was or what fueled the explosion,” Gorvett said, but the investigation has determined “it was accidental.” The fire damaged some ComEd lines but did not extend to the home and there were no other injuries, the chief said.

Mugerditchian was an electrical inspector for the city of Des Plaines, according to colleague Butch Ehrke, a building inspector.

“Dave was one of those people you could always count on,” Ehrke said. The two worked together for the city for almost seven years. Ehrke said Mugerditchian worked for Des Plaines for eight years and before that had worked for Underwriter’s Laboratories.

“Being an electrical inspector is not an easy task,” Ehrke said, “but he knew all there was to know and then some.”

“Professionally, he was one of the best,” Ehrke said. “He cared for people, and that was reflected in his work every day. He was very good to work with, because of his knowledge.”

Ehrke said Mugerditchian would take the time to explain things to homeowners and building owners as far as what remedies would be more economical or more efficient laborwise. “He would explain things to people, like, ‘Here’s a way you can hook up the generator and not have to worry about certain things.’ That’s the kind of guy he was.”

Additionally, Ehrke said, Mugerditchian was kind to people whenever he had the chance to be. “Most people will step over a body on the ground -- not Dave -- he’d help you.”

He said that when the two went on inspections Mugerditchian would do little things most people wouldn’t even think to do, such as picking up a newspaper if it was on the ground outside a home and bringing it to the homeowner’s front door.

Mugerditchian had adult children who lived out of state but also had two high school-aged boys, he said. “He thought the world of those two boys. He’s gonna be missed greatly.”

Ehrke said there’s “a great deal of sadness” in the department today. “We’re a pretty close-knit family.”

“There’s no indication there was any foul play,” the sergeant said.