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 to the 16th floor, with thick smoke and intense heat making it difficult to control. Despite the challenges, crews managed to evacuate the entire building, and multiple residents were taken to local hospitals for smoke inhalation and other injuries. At least 10 ambulances responded to the scene.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials believe it started in a unit on the 15th floor. The extent of the damage is being assessed, but most units are expected to be uninhabitable for some time. Due to a power outage, elevators were not operational, forcing firefighters to use stairwells to rescue residents, including elderly individuals who needed assistance. The Red Cross is now providing temporary housing and support for those displaced by the fire.
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Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
A fire erupted on the 15th floor of the 25-story Harper Square Co-Op building at 4800 South Lake Park Avenue just after 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly, moving vertically through the building all the way to the 24th floor. Hundreds of firefighters worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control, but with the elevators out of service, all equipment had to be carried up manually.
One woman was found dead on the 15th floor, and eight other residents were injured. A firefighter also suffered injuries during the operation. Nearly half of the building’s units are now considered unsafe to live in. The Chicago Fire Department has determined that the fire was caused by smoking materials igniting combustibles in a bedroom, and they have classified it as an accident. A smoke detector was present in the unit, but it was not functioning properly, according to the CFD.
The identity of the deceased woman has not been officially released, but those who knew her described her as a retired teacher in her 80s. The building has a troubling history of violations, having failed seven recent inspections by the Department of Buildings (DOB). One inspection on December 1, 2022, noted failures in testing the fire alarm and evacuation system.
Despite submitting certification from an outside contractor, Fox Valley Fire & Safety, on Thursday, the documents only showed tests conducted in late 2021—over a year before the fire. This means the building was still not in compliance with fire safety standards at the time of the incident. On November 7, 2022, the DOB identified additional violations, including issues with interior door tags, exterior masonry, and failure to submit the required high-rise exterior wall report. These violations led to an enforcement action by the Department of Law, which will be heard in court on February 2.
The 1970-built apartment complex contains 298 units, with about 267 occupied. Notably, individual units do not have sprinklers. Following the 2003 fire at the Cook County Administration Building, a city ordinance was passed requiring all residential high-rises to pass a "life safety evaluation." However, this does not mandate sprinklers if passive fire containment measures, like self-closing doors, are in place.
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