Two Women Killed In Suspicious Northwest Side Fire

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two women died in a suspicious fire that started late Thursday in Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood on the city's northwest side.

The Bomb and Arson squad on Friday was investigating the cause of the blaze in the 4500 block of West Parker. Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said a state Fire Marshal dog hit on a possible accelerant.

The women, who investigators believe were in their 20s, were found in the basement or garden apartment.

Sources say one woman was found dead at the scene. The other died at a hospital.

Neighbor Joel Gonzalez lives on the second floor. He said he's grateful his mother heard a hallway smoke detector go off.

"It could have been us as well," he said.

Friday morning, firefighters went door to door, passing out smoke detectors.

Sources say now the medical examiner will have to determine if the women died from the fire, or from something else.

The fire was reported around 11:40 p.m. Thursday in the two-flat building.