Child killed, 3 injured in North Side apartment fire

CHICAGO — A child was killed and three others, including two Chicago firefighters, were injured in an apartment fire that erupted on the Far North Side on Friday morning.

According to officials from the Chicago Fire Department, the blaze erupted around 11 a.m. at an apartment building in the 2700 block of West Granville Avenue in West Ridge.

Fire crews arrived on the scene within about five minutes of getting the call and found the apartment building wrapped in flames.

Officials said two people, a woman and a child, were injured in the blaze. The child, age six, later died from their injuries.

The child’s mother remains in critical condition.

According to officials, two firefighters were also injured while battling the blaze after a stairwell inside the building collapsed underneath them. The back porches of the building later collapsed as well.

Officials said crews utilized seven hoses and 10 ladders as they worked to get the fire under control.

SkyCam9 was over the scene at around 11:15 a.m. when the building was fully engulfed in flames and fire crews could be seen working to control the fire from the ground and a nearby roof.

The three-and-a-half-story building housed about 12 units, and officials said they believe the fire began on the first floor, but specific details surrounding the incident are still under investigation.

Authorities have not yet identified anyone involved, and it is currently unclear what sparked the blaze. Tenants say the building has functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, however.

Derricka Gayles told WGN News she was at work when she received a call about a deadly fire at her apartment building.

“My daughter was home. She left right before the fire started with my granddaughter,” Gayles said. “It’s just horrible because we know the young lady on the first floor. She has a small child and it’s just sad. Anyone of us could’ve been in the apartment at this time.”

Gayles added that the tenants are close-knit and friendly, making the tragedy all the more unbearable.

“Material stuff we can get,” she said. “But when you lose your life and it’s a neighbor, it’s just terrible.”