An arson investigation is underway in a deadly apartment fire that killed three people, left one unaccounted for and injured three others early Thursday in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, officials said.
A 5-year-old boy, a 32-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man died in the fire, Chicago police said. Their names are not being released because two victims’ next of kin have not yet been notified and the third remains unidentified, according to a spokesperson for the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Officials did not have updates late Thursday on the conditions of the three people, including a 4-year-old boy, who were injured in the fire.
Just before 2 a.m., the Chicago Fire Department responded to heavy fire in the rear of a building at 5222 W. North Ave. which is commercial on the first floor and residential on the upper floors.
They called for more support — 12 ambulances in total — and rescued people from windows of the building, fire department spokesman Larry Langford said.
Four adults and two children, including a 4-year-old boy in critical condition, were initially taken to two nearby hospitals, Langford and police said.
Police said immediately as the fire got underway, two investigations were opened — a death investigation and aggravated arson.
Details about why police believe foul play was suspected were not given.
The roof of the building was removed Thursday morning to help in searching for another person unaccounted for, said Langford. Fire officials suspended the search in the evening and will return to the scene with additional help Friday morning to continue the search.
A woman who only identified herself as a relative of the victims was standing outside the building, and appeared to be in shock.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” she said. “It’s unbelievable.”
Edwin, a 44-year-old man who lives near the corner of North Avenue and Laramie Avenue, said he came home with his wife about 10 minutes before 2 a.m. Soon, they heard multiple ambulances rushing to the scene.
“All of these people just lost their home, it’s sad,” Edwin said. “Hearing that people passed away, that hurts.”
Edwin said he usually walks his dogs near the building, and passes by neighbors that live there. He said knowing that they lost everything is “crazy.” “It’s bad for the community,” he said.
Another woman, who declined to be identified, told the Sun-Times she saw the whole thing from her window last night, as she was getting ready for work.
“I heard loud booms and saw people jumping out of the window,” she said. “It was horrible.”
The woman said she had to call off of work because of how upset she felt.
Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) said it was emotional to be at the scene, watching the roof of the building be removed. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said.
Mitts said this was the second time in her career as alderperson where she witnessed a tragedy like this.
“It just never goes away,” she said. “We’ll get through it.”
Walter, who lives down the street from the fire building, stood on the other side of North Avenue, watching workers remove parts of the roof and recording it on his phone.
Walter said he wasn’t sure what happened last night, because he lives in the basement of his building. “For my neighbors, I feel sad,” Walter, 44, said in Spanish.
The investigation is ongoing and the cause of the fire hadn’t been determined.