Tall & Urban News

Multiple Hospitalized and One Fatality in Kenwood High-Rise Fire in Chicago

Harper Square Cooperative South Tower (c) John W. Cahill
Harper Square Cooperative South Tower (c) John W. Cahill
25 January 2023 | Chicago, United States

A high-rise fire in Kenwood, Chicago on Wednesday, 25 January, 2023 killed one resident and sent eight others to the hospital. The building has many elderly residents in it and many of the building's residents suffered displacement due to fire and water damage. The fire was a challenge to extinguish due to high winds and the fire climbing vertically relatively quickly, according to officials. There was one fatality on the 15th floor, where the fire is believed to have originated. 

The fire was reported just after 10 a.m. at the Harper Square Cooperative, located in the 4800 block of South Lake Park. 

Eight other residents suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One firefighter was also transported for a non-life-threatening injury. All other residents of the building are safe. 

Due to the layout of the building, residents not near the floors impacted were instructed to shelter-in-place.

According to the Chicago Department of Buildings, the building was last inspected on Nov. 7, 2022 where it received violations for multiple safety and maintenance issues. 

For more on this story, go to WGN.