From Captured News on YouTube:
A tragic high-rise fire broke out in the Kenwood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, leaving one person dead and several others injured. The Chicago Fire Department was called to 4850 S Lake Park Ave around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday after reports of smoke and flames coming from the 15th floor. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire spreading rapidly to the 16th floor, with thick smoke and intense heat making it extremely difficult to control. Despite these challenges, crews managed to evacuate the entire building, and multiple residents were taken to local hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation and other injuries. At least ten ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials believe it started in a unit on the 15th floor. Damage is extensive, and most units are expected to be uninhabitable for some time. Due to a power outage, elevators were not operational, forcing firefighters to use the stairwells to evacuate residents, including elderly individuals who may have needed assistance. The Red Cross is now helping displaced residents find temporary shelter and essential supplies.
Thanks, Keith
Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
A fire erupted on the 15th floor of the 25-story Harper Square Co-Op building on South Lake Park Avenue just after 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Strong winds caused the fire to spread quickly, moving vertically up to the 24th floor. Hundreds of firefighters worked to contain the blaze, and because the elevators weren’t working, all equipment had to be carried up manually. One woman was found dead on the 15th floor, and eight others were injured, along with a firefighter. Nearly half of the building’s units are now considered uninhabitable.
The Chicago Fire Department stated that the fire was caused by smoking materials igniting combustibles in a bedroom, and they ruled it an accident. A smoke detector was present in the residence, but it was not functioning properly at the time. The identity of the deceased woman has not been released, but those who knew her described her as a retired teacher in her 80s.
Interestingly, the building had failed its last seven inspections by the Department of Buildings (DOB), including one on December 1, 2022, for not testing the fire alarm and evacuation system. Although the building submitted certification from an outside contractor, Fox Valley Fire & Safety, the records showed that the tests were conducted in late 2021—over a year before the fire occurred. So, at the time of the incident, the building was still not in compliance with fire safety standards.
During a November 7, 2022 inspection, the DOB noted violations related to interior door tags, exterior masonry, and failure to file the required high-rise exterior wall report. These violations were referred to the Department of Law, which filed an enforcement action in Cook County Circuit Court. A hearing is scheduled for February 2.
The building, constructed in 1970, has 298 apartments, with approximately 267 occupied. Notably, individual units do not have sprinklers. Following the deadly 2003 fire at the Cook County Administration Building, the city implemented an ordinance requiring all residential high-rises to pass a "life safety evaluation." This does not mandate sprinklers if passive fire containment measures, such as self-closing doors, are in place.
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