CHICAGO (WLS) — A father and his two sons were hospitalized in serious to critical conditions after a fire in a Portage Park three-flat that displaced 15 residents and two pets, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
The fire began in a basement apartment on North Austin Avenue and Irving Park Road, officials said. Everyone in the building was able to evacuate, but the 34-year-old father and his sons, ages 17 and 7, were taken to Loyola Medicine’s Burn Center.
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Officials said all three suffered burns and injuries from smoke inhalation.
Andrea Juárez, who lived on the first floor with her family, said her brother woke them shortly after 6 a.m.
“We were all asleep,” Juárez said.
Her family of seven evacuated as smoke and flames spread from the basement. Juárez said the injured father and his sons were able to make it out on their own.
“There was smoke coming off of them. Their skin was burnt,” she said. “The boy was screaming, asking for water to be poured over him. The father was in shock. He kept asking ‘What happened? What happened?'”
Firefighters called an EMS Plan 1 response, bringing in additional ambulances to assist the injured. Witness Miguel Rojas described the scene as “chaotic” as emergency crews arrived, but the fire was under control within about 20 minutes.
“It was a basement fire, again, so limited means of access and egress. Limited means of ventilation,” Deputy District Chief Chris Serb said.
One person declined transportation to a hospital, according to CFD.
A cat was also found in the home. CFD said firefighters rescued the animal and gave it oxygen.
The fire also left the building uninhabitable. Juárez said she is now focused on finding a place to live and recovering what belongings can be salvaged.
“I feel like I want to cry. But I can’t,” she said. “I’m also grateful my family is safe. But I’m worried about my neighbors.”
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced families.
“You’re going to meet a lot of people who are having the worst day of their lives. It’s our job to try and mitigate that and help them recover,” said Charles Stevenson.
The CTA said #91 Austin buses were temporarily rerouted in both directions via Austin, Montrose, Narragansett, Irving Park, Austin, and over regular route.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Office of Fire Investigations.
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