WEST RIDGE — A boy died in a big hearth on the Far North Facet Friday morning whereas a girl was taken to a hospital in critical situation, the Chicago Fireplace Division mentioned.
The hearth began at 11:05 a.m. inside an residence constructing within the 2700 block of West Granville Avenue, a hearth division official on the scene mentioned. The boy killed within the hearth is believed to be 6 or 7 years outdated. Two firefighters have been additionally taken to an area hospital after falling by means of collapsed stairs whereas battling the hearth, in accordance with the official.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 12:30 p.m., the official mentioned. The fireplace is believed to have began on the primary flooring earlier than spreading, although the division continues to be investigating what brought about it.
Chicago Police Division autos and hearth vehicles blocked streets surrounding the constructing whereas first responders directed drivers away from the scene early Friday afternoon.
One constructing resident who requested to stay nameless mentioned he had simply stepped out of the residence complicated for a couple of minutes Friday morning earlier than returning to see {that a} hearth had damaged out. There have been “simply flames” and a girl screaming about her baby, he mentioned.
The neighbor mentioned he thought his residence on the east facet of the constructing was undamaged for the reason that hearth appeared to have occurred on the west facet.
Ana, a West Ridge resident who lives on the block the place the residence constructing caught hearth, mentioned she got here out of her residence when she heard sirens. The fireplace was “like nothing I’ve ever seen earlier than,” she mentioned, asking to solely be recognized by her first identify.
“I’ve lived right here for some time and I don’t know any of these [neighbors] personally, [but] I do see them coming and going, and I’m praying to God they make it by means of this,” Ana mentioned. “I simply can’t think about.”
Clinton Elementary Faculty, 6110 N. Fairfield Ave., is throughout the road from the place the hearth occurred. Ald. Debra Silverstein (fiftieth), who represents the world, mentioned the Fireplace Division coordinated with the college to make sure college students have been secure and that college pick-up might proceed on the normal time Friday afternoon.
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