Feb. 12--A 7-year-old boy who was found dead near his dog in an attic crawlspace several hours after firefighters rescued a woman from a Roseland neighborhood died of smoke inhalation, officials said today.
Omarionat Tucker died of carbon monoxide intoxication and inhalation of smoke and soot from the fire, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. The office ruled the boy's death an accidental death, officials said.
The boy's grandmother, 66, was rescued from the home in the 10700 block of South Prairie Avenue, but the boy, was found in an attic crawlspace by fire investigators several hours after the fire was extinguished, officials said.
Two dogs, including one found near the boy in the attic, also died in the fire, Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff said Saturday.
Hoff said the fire was extremely smoky and the child was hidden from view in the attic.
Firefighters were called to the 1 1/2 story frame home about 10 a.m. and found smoke and flames coming largely from the basement of the home, said Fire Department spokesman Kevin MacGregor. The fire was traveling up the inside of the home's walls rapidly, he said.
Rescuers found the woman unresponsive in the rear of the home's first floor, apparently suffering from smoke inhalation, MacGregor said. The woman was resuscitated and was taken to Roseland Hospital in critical condition, MacGregor said. Firefighter found working smoke detectors in the home.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation.
Copyright 2012 - Chicago Tribune
