A basement fire tore through a South Side home in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood Monday morning, sending two men to the hospital after flames broke out in the 7900 block of South Eberhart Avenue around 10:40 a.m. One man suffered burns to his arms and face, while the other sustained only minor injuries, according to Chicago police.
Initial police reports described the 43-year-old man as in serious condition with burn injuries and the 39-year-old man with minor injuries, according to ABC7 Chicago. But a Chicago Fire Department statement relayed by CBS Chicago characterized both men as being in fair condition, leaving the exact severity of the injuries an open question. Both were taken to University of Chicago Medicine, according to the original police account.
That hospital is home to a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center and the South Side's specialized Burn and Complex Wound Center, giving the two men access to multidisciplinary burn care close to home. Chicago police said the cause of Monday's fire remains under investigation.
A Pattern of Dangerous Fires Across the Far South Side
The Chatham fire comes just three days after a residential blaze in nearby Englewood killed a 55-year-old man and hospitalized two women. Fire crews responded to a fire at a residence in the 500 block of West 66th Street, according to CBS News, underscoring how frequently severe residential fires have struck South Side communities in recent weeks.
Basement fires can pose distinct safety challenges. Basement fire safety involves reducing fire hazards and maintaining safe ways out.
Basement Safety Questions in Chatham
A basement's use as living space can raise questions about safety and emergency egress.
Hoodline also previously covered a Chatham teen shot on a violent block earlier this month.
