Three People Injured In Old Town, Chicago Apartment Fire

Unsafe Premises - January 30, 2024

Several People Injured While Escaping Apartment Fire In Old Town, Chicago on Wells Street by Burton Place and Schiller Street

Three People Injured In Old Town, Chicago Apartment Fire

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (January 30, 2024) – At least three people were injured in an Old Town, Chicago apartment fire on Burton Street near Schiller Street.

Cook County officials are saying that the fire started overnight. A fire started at the apartment building in Old Town and firefighters were called to the scene.

Several people were injured as they were trying to escape the fire. A man and woman were both taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Another man was taken to the hospital with an ankle injury. A full investigation into the Old Town fire remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Chicago Apartment Fires

Residential fires remain a major source of 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.” There are a number of other causes of residential fires.

  • Electrical outlet malfunctions
  • Heating
  • Lithium-ion battery explosions
  • Candles
  • Appliances and equipment

Depending on the facts of any case, the owner of an apartment building could face civil liability if someone is injured on their property. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/1), property owners must maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. To that end, property owners must follow all building and fire codes. There are a number of factors that could contribute to apartment fires.

  • Appliances within an apartment may not be well maintained.
  • Smoke alarms may have malfunctioned or not been present in the first place.
  • Flammable materials such as propane or gasoline may have been stored improperly.

The vast majority of apartment fires are preventable. If a fire does start, it is important that certain measures are taken to slow the spread of the fire. Property owners must make sure that emergency exits are not blocked. If an exit is blocked, this could have lethal consequences. Any person that is injured in an apartment fire may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A premises liability attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Chicago Apartment Fires

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Old Town fire. It is our sincere hope that everyone will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Old Town apartment fire? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here for you. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they are entitled to. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.