Eight people, including six children, are dead after an early Sunday morning fire broke out in a three-story residential building near the Little Village neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side — one of the biggest tragedies the city’s fire department has seen in years, officials say.
Officials said they received a call that a fire broke out at 2224 S. Sacramento Ave. around 4 a.m.
Fire Commissioner José A. Santiago said the call came from a woman who said she came home from work and smelled the fire.
Police say the victims were immediately found in the second floor (the first floor was vacant) of the structure, which was described as a “coach house.” By the time fire crews got inside the building, seven people were already dead, officials say.
Authorities say two others were severely injured and were transported to Stroger Hospital.
The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. Officials also say it was unknown whether there were smoke detectors in the residence.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the local alderman have both been alerted, Santiago said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.