Four Dead In Rogers Park Fire
A 69-year-old woman, her 46-year-old daughter, and two men died in a townhome blaze on North Paulina Street.
By Marco Alvarez ·
Residents in the Rogers Park neighborhood woke to emergency lights and sirens early Thursday morning after a fire claimed four lives in a townhome on the 7000 block of North Paulina Street.
Chicago Police Department officials reported that the blaze began around 4:15 a.m. Inside the home, responders found four individuals unresponsive. The victims included a 69-year-old woman, a 46-year-old woman, a 22-year-old man, and a 13-year-old boy. All four were transported to a hospital where they were later pronounced dead.
Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) identified the victims as a multigenerational family. She stated that the group consisted of a grandmother, her daughter, and the daughter’s two sons. Hadden also confirmed that the family’s dog perished in the fire. The youngest son attended Kilmer Elementary School at 6700 N. Greenview Ave. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released the names of the victims.
Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Merritt said investigators are currently determining the cause of the fire. Hadden noted that firewalls between the townhome units prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent homes. Hours after crews extinguished the blaze, neighbors gathered on the block to support one another while investigators worked the scene.
Martin Rule, a resident of a nearby building who has lived in the area for five years, described waking up to the sound of a helicopter overhead. He observed neighbors exiting their homes as police and firefighters arrived. “I could hear people yelling, it was horrible,” Rule said. “I didn’t know the family, but it’s devastating what’s happened to them. I’m praying for the rest of their family.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the loss in a social media post, calling the event a “devastating tragedy.” He said his heart goes out to the lovedones and the community. Johnson stated that his administration will remain on the ground to ensure affected residents have access to critical support and resources as the investigation continues.
