chicagoareafire.com

Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:

A 10-year-old girl and her mother are dead after an early morning house fire in the 8600-block of South Hermitage in Gresham Sunday. Relatives identified the victims as Ieashia Ford and her 10-year-old daughter Porsche. The pair were sleeping when someone set the house on fire, according to the family.

Four others were also hospitalized in the aftermath, including the mother’s boyfriend and two cousins. All of them are expected to recover from their injuries as both the fire and police departments continue to investigate the cause of a fire that family members believe was anything but accidental. Chicago firefighters worked to save the six people inside, but only four made it out.

Mixed in with the shock, however, is concern that the fire may have been intentionally set, taking place hours after an argument between the mother and an acquaintance relatives said had been harassing her. “He was sending her text messages and threatening her,” said family member Felicia White. “That he was going to set her house on fire.”

While an arson unit was on the scene Sunday morning in the hours following the fire, investigators at this point, are refusing to elaborate and still call the incident a death and fire investigation.

From CFD Media on Twitter:

8624 s Hermitage. Working fire with 6 transports EMS plan 1. Two of the victims extremely critical to Little Company of Mary. All adults. No smoke detectors heard

CFD Media photo

Update: Sadly we update the EMS report from 8624 Hermitage. The critical transports to Little Company of Mary are now deceased. We do not have ages yet, one may be younger than first thought. (Langford)

Update: one of the victims from 8624 Hermitage is identified as a girl about 12 years old . The other victim is an adult.

Update:Hermitage fire. The 4 adults taken to Christ Medical center are expected to recover. The two patients taken to Little Company of Mary have died. Both are females one about 12 the other in her 30’s. No cause on the fire yet. OFI is on the scene.

CFD Media photo

Fire safety team will work the area of 8624 Hermitage with detectors and information at 10 am today.

Crews passing out smoke detectors & safety information near the fatal fire on 86th and Hermitage. Please check the batteries on your smoke detectors because the extra time they provide in a fire is invaluable. (4-1-10)

CFD Media photo

Special Agent Mitch Kushner, veteran Zoe, and new recruit GG from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are assisting the investigation of the fatal on 86th & Hermitage to determine cause and origin. (4-1-10)