Three Killed In Chicago Apartment Fire on West North Avenue

Unsafe Premises - June 28, 2025

Fire That Killed Three People In Chicago’s West Side Has Been Deemed Suspicious

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 28, 2025) – Three people have tragically died on Chicago’s West Side after a 3-11 alarm fire broke out at an apartment building on West North Avenue.

Cook County officials are saying that the fire started around 2 AM on Thursday. One resident reported that they heard loud banging on their door and were informed that the building was on fire.

Firefighters used at least eight ladders to breach the building and evacuate residents. At least five people were pulled from the buildings windows.

Others escaped by the stairs and jumping from the apartment. Tragically, three people were killed in the blaze, including a five-year-old boy.

At least three other people sustained injuries and were taken to Stroger Hospital and Loyola University Medical Center in Haywood. Investigators are saying that the cause of the fire is suspicious.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Chicago’s West Side Apartment Fires

Residential fires are a leading cause of preventable injury and death in dense urban population centers like Chicago. According to one author in Chicago Area Fire, “Residents of the South and West Sides are at a far greater risk for house fires — and more likely to get injured or die in a fire — than residents in other neighborhoods across the city and nation. Parts of Englewood are among the most at risk of getting injured in a house fire of any neighborhoods in the nation.” There are many safety measures that can help protect people in the event of a fire.

• Smoke Alarms: One of the key safety features that can help warn people of fires is functional smoke alarms. They can warn residents of a fire before it becomes life-threatening.
• Sprinklers: Ideally, sprinklers can help put out a fire before it spreads. At the very least, they can drastically slow down the rate at which a fire spreads so that residents can escape safely.
• Fire Extinguishers: Another key safety feature for apartments and other commercial buildings is fire extinguishers. These are critical at putting out small fires before they engulf a room or building.

Property owners in Illinois have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. Residents must be protected from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm, including harm posed by fires. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition with their property, they must take action. For example, a property owner may be aware that the appliances in the building need maintenance and fail to act.

A number of lawsuits have been filed by people injured in apartment fires throughout Chicago. Consider, for example, the 2018 Little Village Fire in Chicago that killed 10 children. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental. The owner of the apartment faced 40 violations for the fire. Among other things, there was a lack of working smoke detectors in some areas. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any apartment fire.

• The cause of the fire should be determined. Many fires are caused by faulty or poorly maintained appliances in a building.
• All medical records related to injuries should be preserved.
• An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted.

Apartment fires are often highly preventable. But even when a fire is not preventable, adequate safety measures should give residents enough time for them to escape safely. In far too many situations, property owners prioritize their own profits over having a safe and well-maintained building. The family of any person killed in an apartment fire may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Cook County Apartment Fires

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims who died in this apartment fire. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all who have lost so much. It is our hope that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies down the road.

Do you need more information about a Cook County apartment fire? Our team of apartment safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that property owners are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.