Elderly Woman Killed, Firefighters Hurt in House Fire

Firefighters injured in 'flashover' fire

An elderly woman was killed and three firefighters were seriously hurt after a Thursday night house fire in the Southwest Side’s Morgan Park neighborhood.

Firefighters pulled Gloria Odom, 74, unconscious in the kitchen of her home and took her to the hospital with smoke inhalation, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said. An autopsy is scheduled for later Friday, the medical examiner’s office said.

Three firefighters were also injured and were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious condition, Langford said.

Preliminary reports indicate the firefighters were injured in a “flashover.” Police said all the firefighters remained in “stable” condition Friday morning.

The fire started about 10:45 p.m. in the one-story house. Additional crews were called to the scene at about 11:20 p.m. An EMS Plan 1 response, which automatically sends five ambulances to the scene, was also initiated as a precaution, Langford said.

Unconfirmed dispatch reports said the fire was extinguished about 11:50 p.m.

Police said the cause of the blaze is believed to be accidental.

Langford said the home was severely damaged by the blaze, Langford said.

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