Man Died In Brighton Park, Chicago Apartment Fire

Unsafe Premises - December 10, 2024

Investigation Underway After Man Died in Brighton Park, Apartment Fire on Francisco Avenue

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 10, 2024) – An apartment fire in Brighton Park, Chicago has tragically killed one man near Francisco Avenue and 45th Street.

Cook County officials are saying that the fire took place around 4:00 a.m. on Thursday. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the fire.

They found a man, possibly in his 60s, was found unresponsive inside of the apartment. Despite lifesaving measures, he was later pronounced dead.

A full investigation into the cause of the Brighton Park apartment fire remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Chicago Apartment Fires

Residential fires remain one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association, “Over the five-year period of 2015–2019 as a whole, cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, while smoking was the leading cause of home fire deaths.” Apartment fires can be caused by a variety of different factors.

• Batteries: A large number of residential fires have been caused by faulty lithium-ion batteries overheating and exploding.
• Faulty Wiring: Older buildings can have poorly maintained wiring that may lead to short circuits.
• Improper Storage of Chemicals: When chemicals are improperly stored, they can easily catch fire when exposed to ignition sources.

Apartment owners have a legal obligation to take action to protect their residents from fires and other foreseeable sources of harm. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/1), property owners must maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. If apartment owners have actual or constructive knowledge about a dangerous condition with their property, they must take action. Failing to take action could form the basis of a negligence claim. An apartment owner may have been negligent in any number of different ways prior to a fire.

• Apartment owners may have failed to ensure that all smoke alarms were in working order.
• Apartment owners may have allowed key exits to become obstructed.
• Apartment owners may have failed to maintain equipment or electrical systems, which led to a fire.

Investigating Brighton Park Apartment Fires

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man who died in this Brighton Park apartment fire. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Brighton Park apartment fire? Our team of apartment safety advocates is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.