A young boy was killed and three others injured, including two Chicago firefighters in a fast-moving blaze that heavily damaged an apartment building in the city’s West Ridge neighborhood on the city’s Northwest Side, officials said.
According to Chicago Fire Department officials, fire crews were called to the blaze in the multi-story brick apartment building in the 2700 block of West Granville Avenue just after 11 a.m. Arriving crews quickly raised the still-and-box alarm to a 2-11 alarm, which summons additional manpower and firefighter equipment to the scene. The building had between 12 and 15 units, authorities said.
Two of the victims, a boy believed to be around 6 or 7, and an adult woman were found on the building’s first floor. Both were taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital, where the boy was pronounced dead, fire officials said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office couldn’t be reached to confirm the death. The unidentified woman was listed in critical condition.
Two firefighters were injured when an engulfed interior stairwell collapsed. One firefighter was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital and the second to Ascension Saint Francis in Evanston. Both firefighters were expected to recover. No other injuries were reported.
Officials said the blaze caused extensive damage to the building, with flames burning through its roof. The fire was struck around 12:30 p.m., but fire crews remained on the scene. The department’s Office of Fire Investigation was investigating the cause of the fire. It was unclear whether the building had working smoke detectors.
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