Sunday, March 8, 2015

POLICE DOGS FOUND ACCELERANT ON THE SCENE OF THE BLAZE AT THE EAST GARFIELD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO









MARCH 8, 2015

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Accelerant was found on the scene of a fire that injured a 79-year-old woman and her son early Sunday in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, police said.

The blaze started around 3:05 a.m. in a coach house in the 300 block of South Albany Avenue on the West Side, said Chicago Fire Department Cmdr. Frank Velez.

As a result of the fire, a 79-year-old woman was transported to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, and a man in his 40s was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, said police and fire officials. Both were listed in critical condition.

The woman, who suffered smoke inhalation, and her 45-year-old son are expected to survive, according to police, who said they live together.

Police dogs found accelerant on the scene of the blaze, which is believed to be arson, according to police.

A fire erupted on the same block earlier in the week, and no arrests have been made, police said.

The blaze was struck out around 3:41 a.m., and fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, Velez said.