2 dead, others missing in Cicero fire

2 dead, others missing in Cicero fire
BY Georgia Garvey, Randi Belisomo of WGN-TV, and Chuck Berman
February 14, 2010 12:01 PM Y
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tri
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/2-alarm-fire-breaks-out-in-cicero.html


Firefighters work on the building at 3034 48th Court in Cicero that was wrecked by fire earlier today. (Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune)

Fire officials said two adults died and others are missing in a 2-alarm fire that tore through several buildings in Cicero this morning.

Three firefighters suffered what were described as non-life-threatening injuries while battling the blaze, including one who was hurt when a chimney collapsed on his head.

The fire was reported to have broke out this morning in a 2½-story building located at 3034 48th Courtt. Cicero town spokesman Ray Hanania said it was one of three buildings that caught fire. Twenty-three occupants from those buildings were transferred to the town's public safety office, he said.

The fire was spotted by a passerby who alerted authorities about 6:30 a.m. A spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office said at 11:45 a.m. the bodies remained on the scene and have not been identified. He said their ages and genders also have not been confirmed.

Relatives at the scene said they were looking for a man, a woman and two children who lived in one of the buildings. One of the children is believed to be a newborn.

"They can't find nobody," said Willie Newton, the grandfather of the man who lives in the house with his girlfriend. "They have no information."

Lorraine Santana escaped a burning house with her three children, ages 20, 14, and 7, and with their chihuahua, Tiny.

"We were sleeping," said Santana. "All I heard was screaming -- 'Fire! Fire!.'

"I'm relieved my kids are safe," Santana said.

A chimney collapsed on a firefighter's head, causing "significant but not serious injuries," Hanania said. That firefighter was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago for treatment.
"I understand he's doing well," Hanania said.

Two other firefighters suffered minor injuries during the blaze and have since been treated and released from at least one area hospital, Hanania said.

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago provided food, clothing, winter coats and shelter to seven adults and 12 children affected by the fire, according to a news release from the organization.

Hanania said city officials will be reviewing the occupancy codes of the 3034 building to see if any of those codes were violated.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.