CHICAGO — A large high-rise fire in Kenwood Wednesday killed one resident and sent eight others to the hospital.
The fire was reported just after 10 a.m. at the Harper Square Cooperative, located in the 4800 block of South Lake Park. The fire grew to nine floors at one point before being contained.
At around 12:25 p.m., WGN News crews noted flames were no longer visible.
CFD said a person was found dead in a unit on the 15th floor, where the fire is believed to have originated.
Additionally, eight other residents suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One firefighter was also transported for a non-life-threatening injury.
The building has many elderly residents in it, Ald. Sophia King said.
King said at least 47 residents are displaced due to fire and water damage.
Due to high winds, the fire moving vertically and providing a challenge to getting water to those floors, officials indicated.
All other residents of the building are safe.
“It is a challenge, but there are trained for it and we have plenty of personnel at the scene,” CFD’s Larry Langford told WGN news as flames were raging.
Due to the layout of the building, residents not near the floors impacted were asked to shelter-in-place.
“We don’t want people to self-evacuate because they can put themselves in harm’s way,” Deputy fire commissioner Marc Ferman said.
Salvation Army representatives are at the scenes to help those who have been displaced.
According to the Chicago Department of Buildings, the building was last inspected on Nov. 7, 2022. Violations were issued for the interior trash door tags, exterior masonry and for failing to file the required high-rise exterior wall report.
Inspectors with the DOB were on the scene Wednesday and working with the fire department as they investigate and asses the damage.