CHICAGO — The Kenwood high-rise apartment building that caught fire Wednesday afternoon, leaving a woman dead and multiple people injured and displaced has had a history of unaddressed safety violations.
The fire erupted at Harper Square starting on the 15th floor spreading all the way to the 24th floor. Firefighters believe the fire started in apartment 1508 where an elderly woman is left dead.
Per the CFD, the fire was caused by the careless use of smoking materials that ignited combustibles in a bedroom. They say it was accidental and the smoke detector was not working at the time.
Fire commissioner Annette Nance-Holt says the fire went up vertically until firefighters were able to gain control of it on the 24th floor. Additional crews were requested due to rapid spread of the flames.
Nine people were taken to the hospital including one firefighter with minor injuries.
After another fire took place in the complex two years ago, Harper Square has seen multiple health code violations. City records show the building failed to address the last seven records which many of were for fire alarms with the most recent complaint being in December.
Other city records show that there were other violations of doors missing fire tags and fire pumps in need to repair or replacement.
The city’s law department filed for an enforcement action against three violations with a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Residents are forced to figure out their next steps, a tenant living in the complex for 18 years worries about many of the affected tenants.
“It’s just sad to see all the tenants, some of them you know personally. They lost their unit, they lost pets,” Eli WIlliams said.
Another family friend was outside of the apartment when the fire started and left a woman dead.
“She was a really sweet person, really generous. She’ll be missed by a lot of people,” a family friend said.
Mary Gordon went to the building Thursday hoping to get her medication and some important documents.
“I’m still nervous and scared,” Gordon said. “I have no clue of what I’m going to do if I can’t stay here. I don’t know where I’m going to go.”
WGN reached out to Harper Square for a comment and was declined.