Tragedy struck Brighton Park early Thursday morning, as an apartment fire claimed the life of an elderly man and displaced several other residents. According to the Sun-Times, the fire erupted around 4:05 a.m. in the 4500 block of South Francisco Avenue. The Chicago Police found a man, believed to be in his 60s, unresponsive amidst the flames. He was later pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
While the identity of the deceased has not been released, it is known that four other people were disrupted from their lives due to the blaze, having to seek alternative housing. The fire, the cause of which remains under investigation, comes as the city endures particularly harsh winter conditions with sub-zero wind chills, ABC7 Chicago reports. No other injuries have been reported, in connection with the incident.
The Chicago Fire Department is actively investigating the origin and cause of the fire. Information is still forthcoming, and authorities have not yet specified whether any foul play is suspected.
