Arrest made for starting Cicero warehouse fire

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with starting a massive fire that destroyed a vacant warehouse in Cicero earlier this week. The incident, which sparked a five-alarm response, led to the destruction of the building and a nearby business.

The teen, who was part of a group of high school students, allegedly went to the warehouse at 1829 54th Ave. on Tuesday and lit a fire, possibly to stay warm. According to town spokesman Ray Hanania, the boy played with the flames, causing them to spread rapidly. The group then fled the scene.

Firefighters arrived around 6:15 p.m. and found the warehouse fully engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread to the adjacent building at 1843 54th Ave., home to Central Steel Fabricators. That structure was also completely destroyed.

Later that night, just after midnight, another fire broke out at a residence on 1410 S. 50th Ct. It quickly spread to the neighboring house at 1412 S. 50th St. Authorities later determined that this second fire was caused by a space heater and was ruled an accident.

The warehouse fire burned for over 12 hours before being fully extinguished early Wednesday morning. Multiple fire departments from the area were called in to assist. The suspect was arrested on Friday night following information provided to local investigators.

No other minors involved in the incident will face charges, according to police. The community is still dealing with the aftermath of the fires, which disrupted many lives and caused significant property damage.

From NBC5:

A teenager has been charged with starting a five-alarm fire that destroyed a vacant warehouse and a neighboring business in west suburban Cicero. The incident occurred earlier this week and led to a major emergency response.

The juvenile suspect was arrested on Friday night after receiving information from the Cicero Fire Department. According to authorities, the teen was with two other high school students when they went to the warehouse at 1829 54th Avenue and started a fire, likely to keep warm.

As the fire spread, the teen reportedly played with the flames, leading to a rapid escalation. The group then fled the scene. Firefighters responded just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, finding the warehouse already fully ablaze.

The fire raged for over 12 hours, requiring assistance from a dozen fire departments. At one point, the flames spread to the neighboring Central Steel Fabricators building, which contained flammable materials like aerosol cans and cardboard. Officials were concerned about potential explosions.

Both the warehouse and the adjacent business were completely destroyed, but no injuries were reported. Fire Chief Ron Opalecky expressed relief that the suspect had been identified and arrested.

Police Superintendent Bernard Harrison confirmed that no other charges will be filed in connection with the warehouse fire. Cicero’s mayor praised the firefighters and officials for their quick response and dedication in handling the crisis.

Thanks Dan