Chicago apartment explosion rattles residents: 'My heart almost shot out of my body'

Cause still unknown in West Side explosion that hurt 8 people

FOX 32's Joanie Lum speaks with the owner of the apartment building that exploded in South Austin Tuesday morning. The owner says the explosion originated in apartment 301 where the resident was severely burned.

CHICAGO - At least eight people were injured in a blast around 9 a.m. Tuesday near West End and Central avenues, collapsing the top floor of the four-story building and filling the street with dust, bricks and debris.

"All of a sudden, I hear boom," said Otis Manning who lives across the street. "My heart almost shot out of my body. I saw windows busted open, I saw debris."

The building is still standing as of Wednesday morning, but there is concern about collapse, according to officials.

Ten ambulances were called, and at least eight adults were transported to hospitals, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
Two men were taken to Loyola University Medical Center, one in serious to critical condition and the other in fair to serious condition, fire officials said.
A man was taken in serious to critical condition to Mount Sinai Medical Center. A man and a woman were also taken there, both in fair to serious condition.
A woman was taken to West Suburban Medical Center in fair to serious condition.
Two men were later transported to Stroger Hospital, one in fair to serious condition and the other in serious to critical condition.

Chicago Fire, ATF investigate house explosion on West Side

Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a house explosion on Chicago's West Side.

One of the victims was in the building across the street, Deputy Fire Commissioner Marc Ferman said in a news conference at the scene. He said the injuries ranged from burns to trauma.

Nearby buildings were evacuated and also searched, Ferman said.

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Chicago fire officials deliver an update after 8 people were hurt in an explosion at a West Side apartment

Deputy fire commissioner Marc Ferman spoke to the media Tuesday morning about the latest in their investigation into an apartment explosion in the Austin neighborhood.

Henry Mims told FOX 32 Chicago he was running late Tuesday morning otherwise he would’ve been inside his car that was covered in debris.

"My car is completely totaled, smashed in," said Mims.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by CFD’s Office of Investigation, CPD and the ATF. Officials with the Chicago Fire department say the "source" of the explosion was the fourth floor.

People’s Gas inspectors ruled out gas service as a cause.

The owner of the building, Roman Viere, says the explosion came from unit 301. Viere also said the building had a safety inspection Tuesday and nothing was noted.

Video shows aftermath of Chicago building explosion

Video shot by the Chicago Fire Department shows debris scattered on cars and across the street after part of a building exploded Tuesday morning in the Austin neighborhood.

The building at 5601 W. West End Avenue is owned by West End LLC and managed by Urban Alternatives.

Chicago’s Department of Buildings had not received any recent inspection requests, according to officials. The building has been cited in the past, but none of the violations would have "contributed to an explosion or structural failures," according to the department.

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot released this statement: "My thoughts are with those who were injured and displaced in the building collapse in the Austin neighborhood. We must also thank the brave men and women of the Chicago Fire Department who are working to abate the dangerous conditions."

The Red Cross is assisting the families from the 31 unit building. They’ve set up a shelter at 118 N. Central Ave at the Circle Urban Ministries. It’s not known if their homes can be saved.

Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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