Fatal fire in Chicago, 6-26-22 (more)

A tragic fire in West Humboldt Park left three young brothers dead and a fourth child in critical condition. The incident occurred early Sunday at an apartment located at 4032 W. Potomac, where the children were trapped in a basement with only one exit that was blocked by flames.

The mother of the children suffered burns and smoke inhalation. With the back door blocked, she had to break a window to escape. She is currently hospitalized, recovering from facial burns, and remains incapacitated.

Firefighters arrived at 12:20 a.m. and found the apartment door locked from the inside. They had to force their way in. Two children were found unresponsive near the entrance, while the other two were on the opposite side of the apartment. All four children were rescued but had suffered from 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 succumbed to their injuries. The fourth child is still in the hospital, fighting for his life.

Investigators believe the fire started from an open flame in one of the rear rooms, but the exact cause remains under investigation. It is unclear whether the fire was accidental or intentional.

Interestingly, firefighters reported hearing working smoke detectors upon arrival, yet none were found in the basement. This has raised questions about the safety measures in place.

Property records indicate that the building contained three apartments, including the basement unit. However, it is not clear if the basement was legally built or operated, given its single point of egress.

All four children were brothers who lived with their mother and her partner in the apartment. The community is now mourning the loss of these young lives and calling for greater awareness of fire safety in multi-unit housing.