Three children hospitalized after fireworks ignite mattress, start fire at CHA building

CHICAGO — Three minors are in the hospital after a fire at a Chicago Housing Authority building in the city’s Douglas neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

“When initial companies arrived, there was heavy fire on the fourth floor,” said Deputy District Chief John Giordano. “We extinguished the fire pretty quickly and there were three children that were transported to Comer Children’s with non-life threatening injuries.”

According to officials with the Chicago Fire Department, all three children were under 12 years old and taken from a six-story apartment building in the 2900 block of South State Street around 1 p.m. to Comer Children’s Hospital.

Fire officials said one of the children suffered a minor burn, while the other two experienced slight smoke inhalation.

Giordano added they were able to contain the fire to one unit on the fourth floor and at this time, it remains unclear how many people have been displaced by the fire.

After an initial investigation, fire officials ruled the cause of the fire was use of fireworks that ignited a mattress.

The CHA provided WGN News with the following statement:

“CHA’s thoughts are with the family affected by today’s fire at Dearborn Homes. Thank you to the Chicago Fire Department and the property management team, Eastlake Management, for their prompt attention. One other apartment in the building was affected by the fire. CHA has identified new apartments at Dearborn for both families and will assist them with their relocation. The remainder of the units are not affected.”

After the fire was extinguished and residents were allowed back in the building, many offered well wishes to the children injured in the incident.

“Yes, I pray that they recover well and fast,” said Tunpanga Hines. “I’m so sorry that that happened to them, that’s a very sad situation.”

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