At least 4 dead, others missing after fire sweeps through apartment building near Chicago

Officials: 4 dead, others missing in Illinois fire

CHICAGO — A fire tore through a suburban Chicago apartment building Sunday morning, killing at least four people, authorities said.

The blaze in the three-story building in Cicero started at about 6:30 a.m. and was extinguished within an hour, but investigators were searching the charred structure hours later for other possible victims, town spokesman Ray Hanania said.

“There may have been four or five families (living) in there,” Hanania said. “We have no idea, it could range from 23 to 40 people” who lived in the building, he said. The structure had both two and three bedroom apartments.

The victims’ identities were not immediately released, but all were believed to be adults. Three fire fighters suffered non life-threatening injuries Hanania said.

Nearly two dozen residents were relocated to a public safety office in Cicero, which is about 10 miles southwest of Chicago.

Two other buildings were damaged, including an adjacent house, Hanania said.

Resident Lorraine Santana told The Chicago Tribune that she was sleeping when she awoke to screams. She escaped one of the damaged structures with her three children and a dog.

“I’m relieved my kids are safe,” Santana said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Hanania said city officials would investigate if any building occupancy codes were violated in the building where the fire broke out.

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago provided assistance on the scene, according to a news release from the group.