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7 Dead in Suburban Chicago Apartment Fire
SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO - An early morning fire that ripped through a suburban Chicago apartment building on Sunday left seven people dead, including a newborn baby, a 3-year-old and four teenagers.
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The death toll rose from four to seven Sunday as investigators searched through the charred remains of the three-story building in Cicero for victims and residents waited anxiously to hear word of their loved ones and neighbors.
"To happen on a day when families are usually coming together for love and life - Valentine's Day - it makes it even more tragic," said town spokesman Ray Hanania. "It impacted everybody, including the firemen."
He said initial reports indicated the victims may have been related.
The blaze started around 6:30 a.m. and was extinguished in about an hour, Hanania said.
It was unclear how many people had lived in the building, making it difficult to account for residents. Hanania estimated the number of residents was anywhere from 23 to 40 people. The building had two and three bedroom apartments.
The fire appeared to have started in the building's attic, Hanania said, adding that the victims may have lived in the attic and on the second floor.
Authorities did not immediately release the victims' identities, but said a 20-year-old male, a 19-year-old female, an 18-year-old female and a set of 16-year-old twins - a brother and sister - were among the victims.
The genders of the remaining two victims - a 3-day-old and 3-year-old - were not immediately known.
The Cook County medical examiner said autopsies were scheduled for Monday morning.
Three fire fighters suffered non life-threatening injuries, Hanania said.
Nearly two dozen other residents were taken to hotels in the Cicero area, which is about 10 miles southwest of Chicago.
Two other buildings were damaged, including an adjacent house, Hanania said.
Resident Lorraine Santana told The Chicago Tribune that she was sleeping when she awoke to screams. She escaped one of the damaged structures with her three children and a dog.
"I'm relieved my kids are safe," Santana said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Hanania said city officials would investigate if any building occupancy codes were violated in the building where the fire broke out.
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago provided food, clothing, winter coats, shoes and shelter, the group said in a news release.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO - An early morning fire that ripped through a suburban Chicago apartment building on Sunday left seven people dead, including a newborn baby, a 3-year-old and four teenagers.
Related
- Newborn Among 7 Dead in Chicago-area Fire
- Chicago-Sun Times: Photo Gallery
- Cicero Apartment Blaze Kills 7
- Cicero Apartment Fire Kills 7
"To happen on a day when families are usually coming together for love and life - Valentine's Day - it makes it even more tragic," said town spokesman Ray Hanania. "It impacted everybody, including the firemen."
He said initial reports indicated the victims may have been related.
The blaze started around 6:30 a.m. and was extinguished in about an hour, Hanania said.
It was unclear how many people had lived in the building, making it difficult to account for residents. Hanania estimated the number of residents was anywhere from 23 to 40 people. The building had two and three bedroom apartments.
The fire appeared to have started in the building's attic, Hanania said, adding that the victims may have lived in the attic and on the second floor.
Authorities did not immediately release the victims' identities, but said a 20-year-old male, a 19-year-old female, an 18-year-old female and a set of 16-year-old twins - a brother and sister - were among the victims.
The genders of the remaining two victims - a 3-day-old and 3-year-old - were not immediately known.
The Cook County medical examiner said autopsies were scheduled for Monday morning.
Three fire fighters suffered non life-threatening injuries, Hanania said.
Nearly two dozen other residents were taken to hotels in the Cicero area, which is about 10 miles southwest of Chicago.
Two other buildings were damaged, including an adjacent house, Hanania said.
Resident Lorraine Santana told The Chicago Tribune that she was sleeping when she awoke to screams. She escaped one of the damaged structures with her three children and a dog.
"I'm relieved my kids are safe," Santana said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Hanania said city officials would investigate if any building occupancy codes were violated in the building where the fire broke out.
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago provided food, clothing, winter coats, shoes and shelter, the group said in a news release.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Williams on
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How odd that in the first tape the woman in the white coat is identified as Victoria Santana or close to that, and she says she was passing by on the road, and in the second tape she is identified as Victoria Luna and she says she was in the house and got out and went back in to rescue someone. In both tapes, it is the same woman, she wears a white coat and a grey or light brown and white scarf. Are the differences in the name and story a media mix-up or what?? How tragic and my sympathies with the families and prayers for all, especially the 3 day old.
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Permalink Reply by Dennis Hiscock on
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how can you be walking by the scene and in the building trying to help get people out at the same time???
2 different names as you mentioned Kathy....hmmmm.....something don't add up
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Hi Dennis, At first I thought I made a mistake so I watched both news tapes again, and they clearly showed two different names and two different stories for the same woman. I thought it was a bit odd, to say the least. Have a great day and thanks for replying. Kathy
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