Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
Chicago police and firefighters responded just before 2 a.m. Tuesday to the 8200-block of South Cornell Avenue in Stony Island Park for a reported house fire. When they arrived, they found the nearby fire hydrants were frozen, hampering their efforts to battle the blaze.
An 81-year-old woman, who neighbors said lived alone, was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where she later died of her injuries. She was found in the kitchen, just steps from the exit.
According to the Chicago Fire Department, there were no working smoke detectors in the home. Fire crews knocked on doors in the aftermath, handing out free smoke detectors to people in the area.
CFD officials said the fire might have started in the basement and the cause is still under investigation, but a smoke alarm could have provided more warning to escape.
From Chicago Fire Department Media on Twitter:
Fatal fire 8215 Cornell 82 year old woman removed in cardiac arrest critical to U of C where she was pronounced. No working smoke detectors. 911 call at 154 a.m. Engine 72 on scene at 158 a.m. 2 story 25×50 Still and Box alarm
CFD Public Education will be at 82 and Cornell at 10 a.m. to pass out smoke detectors and info in the aftermath of the fatal fire this morning.
8215 Cornell preliminary report indicates fire may have started in basement. No smoke detectors found. Victim found only a few feet from exit. Smoke alarm could have provided enough warning to allow safe escape. Are yours working?
Update on Cornell fatal fire. CFD OFI has determined the most probable cause of this fire was a wiring problem and it will be classified as accidental. Please remember to check smoke detectors. They do save lives!
CFD Media photo
CFD Media photo
