Girl, 12, Killed In Back Of The Yards Fire
(CBS) -- An extra-alarm fire late Friday night in the Back of the Yards neighborhood left a 12-year-old girl dead, reports WBBM's Mike Krauser.
Fire broke out at about 10 p.m. at a two-and-a-half story home near 50th and Carpenter.
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The Chicago Fire Department says it started in the rear of the first floor and quickly moved up the steps, trapping five young people sleeping in the attic. Four jumped out of a front window.
Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Mark Neilsen said the girl was found in a closet.
"We put a lot of effort and sweat and blood and tears into this and when the removal was made with this little girl, I head the fireman upstairs saying a little prayer for her actually saying a prayer for her," Nielsen said.
The Cook County medical examiner identified the victim as Tatianna Joseph. Four people were hurt jumping from the upper floor and four others were injured from smoke inhalation and were hospitalized.
Fire officials said the fire was caused by careless use of smoking materials which ignited a large amount of clothing.
