Chicago Building Fire Leads to Deaths, Injuries and Rescues
Chicago Tribune
(TNS)
Officials said two juveniles and one adult were pronounced dead Thursday morning after an extra-alarm fire broke out at an apartment building in the Austin neighborhood.
Firefighters were called shortly before 2 a.m. to a building located on the 5200 block of West North Ave., and officials said the building was totally involved within 10 minutes of their arrival. Soon after, an extra-alarm was called at the scene.
According to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford, eight ladders were used to rescue people from the structure and at least six individuals were rescued from windows. Three were reported in grave condition and three were listed in critical condition, Langford said.
Stella Newell, 80, said she’s lived in an apartment across the street from the apartment building since 2003, above the Austin Voice newspaper office. She didn’t hear anything coming from the building, until her nephew called to tell her what happened.
She watched from her porch as the smoke flowed outside the holding and firefighters battled the blaze. She said she hopes the police figure out what happened soon.
Shells were found near the scene, officials said, and witnesses reported hearing gunshots before the fire broke out.
Victor Delfi, 66, said he lives around the corner from the building that caught fire. He woke up around 2:15 a.m. to go to the restroom when he heard gunshots. He said he didn’t think anything of it at first — there’s frequently gunshots in the neighborhood, he said. But about 10 seconds later, he heard sirens from first responders. When he looked outside his window, he saw “a huge flame” erupting from the top of the apartment building.
“Huge, it was like nothing I ever seen in my life,” Delfi said. “I got to the point where I’m like that’s not a normal fire.”
Delfi said he’s lived in the neighborhood eight years, but isn’t sure who may have been killed or injured in the fire. He said there was a braiding shop on the building’s first floor, but he wasn’t sure if it was open or not.“It’s unbelievable,” he said “Like something out of the demon world.”
As of Thursday morning, ATF officials were on the scene investigating as a possible arson. Firefighters also were on the scene searching for missing residents.
Langford said the fire appears to have started in a rear stairwell.
Shortly after 11 a.m., three victims — two juveniles and an adult — were reported deceased, Langford said.
©2025 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
