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81-year-old woman killed in South Side fire
An 81-year-old woman died in a house fire in Stony Island Park on the South Side early Tuesday.
CHICAGO - An 81-year-old woman died after being pulled out of a burning home Tuesday morning in the Stony Island Park neighborhood.
Crews responded to a 911 call reporting a fire around 1:54 a.m. in the 8200 block of South Cornell Avenue, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Fire officials said preliminary reports indicated the fire started in the basement.
Officials said they found the woman just steps from the kitchen door, leading them to believe she was trying to escape the flames but could not make it.
She was in cardiac arrest when she was taken to the hospital where she died.
Records show the woman likely lived in the home since the 1970s. Neighbors said she was mostly alone.
Felicia Golatt, who moved out of the neighborhood a few years ago, said she drove over as soon as she heard the news.
"When I saw the house it brought tears to my eyes," Golatt said. "She lived alone for several years and sometimes when I cooked Sunday dinner I would bring her plate. She was always so appreciative."
There were no smoke detectors in the residence, according to CFD.
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Chicago firefighters hand out smoke detectors after blaze kills 81-year-old woman
An 81-year-old woman died after being pulled out of a burning home Tuesday morning in the Stony Island Park neighborhood.
Neighbor Larissa Goodloe said the incident put fire safety at the top of her mind.
"Well it's so sad and it makes me wonder, do we all really have smoke detectors? They're so easy to come by and if we do have smoke detectors, are the batteries working?" Goodloe asked.
Members of the fire department took the opportunity to promote fire safety and encourage everyone to use smoke detectors which they handed out going door-to-door in the neighborhood this morning.
Fire officials said fighting the blaze was made more difficult by freezing temperatures. When confronted by a frozen hydrant, the said they were able to locate another down the block.