The seven-year-old son of a Chicago firefighter whose family was injured in a fire at their home has died.
Ezra Stewart was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday, a day after he was taken to Loyola University Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
the service The firefighter performed CPR on his wife of 34 years after running into the fire at their home that left the woman and their three young children in critical condition. All three family members remain in serious condition.
Although he was on a different team than the one dispatched to the 2500 block of North Rutherford Avenue Tuesday night, a department member brought him to the scene after hearing his address on the scanner.
When they arrived at the home in the Montclare neighborhood around 9:00 p.m., crews found the firefighter’s wife and three children suffering from smoke inhalation. The father performed CPR on her wife in a desperate attempt to revive her.
Although the firefighter was in a different team than the one dispatched to the 2500 block of North Rutherford Avenue Tuesday night, a member of the department brought him to the scene after hearing his address on the scanner.
The mother and her children were taken from their rooms and hospitalized in critical condition from smoke inhalation, authorities said. The family has two girls, ages two and seven, in addition to the deceased.
A neighbor said he heard a loud bang and looked outside to see flames ripping through the building. He said that he called for help at that time.
‘I was shocked. So many firefighters were leaving, so many police officers. She is crazy. She hits so close to home, across the street,” said neighbor Mildred Bran.
Another neighbour, John Marlovitz, said: ‘I heard a bang, looked out my dining room window and saw flames coming out of my kitchen window. He immediately called the fire department and they were here very quickly. They broke down the front door.
“The sirens kept wailing,” said neighbor Joel Rivera. “When I looked outside, it was just the scene you don’t want to see…I saw smoke coming from the roof, and the house was on fire.”
Other neighbors came out to watch as more emergency crews showed up and saw the paramedics performing CPR quickly.
“I saw what appeared to be an adult being resuscitated,” Rivera said. ‘It didn’t look like that person was in good condition.’
“I went home and told my wife what was happening and we prayed for the family,” said neighbor Carlos Gomez.
Photos and video footage from the scene show a fire truck parked on a residential street, with more than a dozen and firefighters and police in front of a property.
Firefighters gathered at a point outside the home to show solidarity with the husband, who works at Truck 55 in Edison Park.
Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said the fire started in the kitchen and spread throughout the property.
Smoke detectors in the house were working, he added.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
When they arrived at the home in the Montclare neighborhood around 9:00 p.m., crews found the firefighter’s wife and three young children suffering from smoke inhalation. The father performed CPR on her wife in a desperate attempt to revive her
On Wednesday morning, contractors boarded up broken windows and a door on the home’s porch, where an empty stroller was left.
A deceased pet was seen being removed from the property that morning, according to ABC7.
Later that day, a fellow firefighter left flowers to show his support.
District 36 Councilman Gil Villegas visited the home Wednesday morning. He learned of the fire and planned to distribute smoke detectors in the neighborhood to remind residents to update their alarm batteries before the daylight saving weekend.
“We are praying that the wife and children get well and make a speedy recovery,” he said.
Villegas said she spoke to the family recently while she was campaigning for an election.
“They are a working-class, blue-collar family. The family was your typical Chicago family in the bungalow beltway. They keep to themselves,’ Villegas said.
Ignite the Spirit, a charity established by the Chicago Fire Department, confirmed that it is working to create a fund for the family.
A spokesperson for Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 said they are also working to create a fund. Additional details will be released at a later date.
