Chicago

Boy Critically Injured in West Pullman Apartment Fire

One boy suffered burns to 90% of his body

One adult and three children were injured, one critically, after a fire tore through an apartment on Friday in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood.

The fire broke out inside a second-floor apartment in the 12100 block of South Indiana Avenue, fire officials said.

Fire officials said a boy about 12 to 13 years old suffered second- or third-degree burns to 90% of his body.

The boy was taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital where he was listed Friday in critical condition.

A witness told NBC 5 the boy exited the apartment covered in "flames head to toe." She told him to "roll on the floor," and shortly after, neighbors wrapped him in a white sheet.

"You could feel the heat," neighbor Greg Williams said. "It was coming out the back room. By the time it go to the front, the flames was in the front room and the kitchen." 

A baby, a 10-year-old and their mother were all taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, officials said, and all were expected to be okay. One firefighter also suffered a minor shoulder injury.

Flames were contained to one unit, officials said. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire.

While smoke detectors are in the apartment complex, investigators said they weren't sure if the specific unit had any.

An unknown number of residents in other units were displaced. 

Another neighbor, Khalisa Dickson, said there was no way to describe the fire. 

"I've never seen nothing like it before in my life," she said. "Never." 

Contact Us