A devastating fire claimed the lives of two children and two adults in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood early Wednesday. Additionally, two other youngsters sustained injuries during the blaze.
Currently recovering at Comer Children’s Hospital, two teenage foster brothers are reported to be in stable condition. The tragic fire, which authorities suspect may have been intentionally set, resulted in the death of two of their foster siblings and the couple who had cared for them for years.
Chicago police have launched an arson investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
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The incident occurred in a residence located on the 6200 block of South Paulina Avenue.
The Chicago Fire Department reported that six individuals, comprising four children, were rushed to the University of Chicago Hospital and Comer Children’s Hospital, where they were initially listed in critical condition.
Tragically, an 8-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy succumbed to their injuries later, according to authorities.
The four other people who were injured included an adult woman and man who were being treated for severe burn injuries, and two boys ages 14 and 16 who were reported as being stable, CPD said.
The adults also later died from their injuries, Chicago police said.
“Every time I see that porch, it just reminds me of home and family. And to come see it look like that, it hurt,” said Antonio Wilson, a son of the adult victims.
What was once a home to kids in foster care is now the scene of a deadly arson investigation.
“My family kept bikes in the front for all the kids to play on,” Wilson said. “We meet up every Saturday for family events whether it’s just watching a movie or having a barbecue every Saturday faithfully. I don’t know what to do now.”
Relatives identified the victims killed as Reginald Wilson and his wife, Lisa Brown, and two of Brown’s foster children – 15-year-old Ja’Quan and his 8-year-old sister, Royalty Rattler.
“They didn’t deserve this,” Antonio Wilson said. “Royal’s birthday is on June 1st. Her birthday was coming up. She didn’t deserve this.”
As questions grow over whether the fire was intentionally set, community leaders are pleading for anyone with information or surveillance video to come forward.
“This house had a family in it, this house had children in it, and yet this house was set on fire,” 15th Ward Alderman Ray Lopez said.
Alderman Lopez said the fire started on the outside of the house.
“If you have issues with somebody else,” Lopez said. “You don’t set their home on fire, you don’t endanger the lives of innocent children sleeping at midnight simply because you’re pissed off at the world.”
Lopez said officials are confident foul play could be involved. He said police have had several calls to the home prior to the fire for domestic issues.
With blown out windows, a burnt second story, the fire, which started around 1 a.m. Wednesday, carried over to the house next door.
“They barbequed in the front, they had a little canopy out there, they played their music at night,” neighbor Andrew Atchinson said.
Atchinson lives around the corner. He said he didn’t know the family well, but could tell that they were a tight-knit group.
“I’m heartbroken,” Atchinson said. “This is terrible. This is truly terrible.”
Now Lopez is asking neighbors to check their doorcam footage between the hours of midnight and 1 a.m. to see if any suspects could be seen making their way towards the house. As the community lends their heartfelt support.
“God be with them, everybody keep them in prayer,” Atchinson said.
Alderman Lopez said anyone hoping to support this family can reach out to his office to do that.
Meanwhile, fire and arson teams were seen on site, but officials have not officially confirmed what caused the fire. Chicago police confirmed it was being classified as an arson investigation.
Alderman Ray Lopez said he is “fairly confident” it is arson and that there had been multiple calls for disputes with neighbors at the home in the past.
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