A devastating fire broke out early Monday morning in the Washington Heights neighborhood.
The blaze claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy on the city’s South Side.
Chicago police and fire officials responded to the 10400 block of South Green Street around 3:27 a.m.
First responders rushed the 10-year-old child to Roseland Hospital.
Medical staff pronounced the child dead shortly after arrival.
While police initially identified the victim as a girl, family members have clarified the identity.
The victim’s grandfather, Robert Harris, identified the boy as 10-year-old London Woodard.
An 18-year-old man was also inside the home during the fire.
Paramedics transported the man to Little Company of Mary Hospital in critical condition.
Harris noted that the 18-year-old victim lives with cerebral palsy.
The grandfather reported that the fire appeared to start on a couch on the first floor.
This is where the young boy was located when the fire began.
Harris stated that the parents were upstairs at the time of the incident.
According to his account, the fire was largely contained to the single piece of furniture.
“The only thing that caught fire in the house was just the couch,” Harris told reporters.
The boy’s parents, a man and a woman, were able to escape the building safely.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by local authorities.
Recent History
Washington Heights has seen a tragic string of residential fires over the last several months.
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This specific block of South Green Street is known for its tight-knit community and older residential structures.
Just last year, a nearby fire in the same district raised concerns about response times and smoke detector availability.
South Side neighborhoods often face higher risks during early morning hours when residents are asleep.
The Washington Heights community is now rallying to support the family following this sudden loss.
City officials frequently remind residents to check their fire alarms on the first of every month.
Tragedies like this highlight the ongoing need for fire safety education in South Side residential zones.
