10-Year-Old Boy Killed, 11 Hurt In Fire On Northwest Side
(CBS) --A 10-year-old boy died in an apartment fire in Chicago's Hollywood Park neighborhood early Sunday morning. The 3-alarm fire sent several other people to the hospital.
According to the Chicago Fire Department, six adults and five children were injured in the fire in an apartment complex near Kimball and Ardmore. Neighbors say the fire started between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports the fire started on the rear porch of an upper floor and quickly engulfed one third of a courtyard building and a four flat next door, with residents trapped and screaming in fear.
"Just wailing and crying and screaming...it sounded like true torture," said neighbor Rehana Patel.
At least four, maybe more, jumped from windows.
"They had no choice. They had to jump because the fire was right by the stairway so people couldn't use the stairway," said fire victim Nho Dang.
Several witnesses said the 10-year-old boy who died was one of those who jumped. Fire officials still investigating what caused the blaze.
Survivors who lost practically all their worldly goods are grateful they didn't lose more.
"Thank God we all got out safely in my building. They can't say the same next door," said Charles Hurdle, Jr.
The Chicago Fire Department believes the fire started on the third floor and it's unclear how it started at this time.
