Excerpts from Fox32Chicago.com:
Three young brothers who died in a West Humboldt Park fire were trapped in a basement apartment with only one exit that was blocked by flames. A fourth boy remains in critical condition from the fire, which broke out early Sunday in the back of the apartment at 4032 W. Potomac.
The child’s mother was burned and inhaled smoke from the fire. Flames blocked the back door — the only exit — forcing the mother to break a window and escape. The mother remained incapacitated at a hospital while she recovers from burns to her face.
Firefighters responded at 12:20 a.m. and had to break through the apartment door, which was locked from the inside. Two children were found unresponsive in a room near the door, and the two other children were found on the other side of the apartment. Firefighters rescued all four of the children, who had suffered smoke inhalation.
Aiden Cruz, 5, was pronounced dead at Saints Mary and Elisabeth Medical Center. Jayden Cruz, 6, and Angel Rodriguez, 11, were hospitalized but later died. The fourth child remains hospitalized.
Investigators determined the fire was caused by an open flame in one of the back rooms, but everything beyond that remains under investigation. It’s unclear what set the fire, or if it was accidental.
Firefighters could hear working smoke detectors when they arrived at the home, but didn’t find any in the basement.
Property records show that the home had three apartments including the basement apartment, but it remained unclear if the basement apartment was built or operated legally since it had only one exit.
All four children were brothers who lived with their mother and her partner at the apartment.
