Chicago fire: 4th child dies after West Humboldt Park basement blaze

Thursday, June 30, 2022
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A fourth child has died after a basement fire on the Northwest Side, Cook County officials said.

Axel Cruz, 4, died from injuries sustained in the fire Wednesday, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said.

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The other three children who died in the fire were identified to the medical examiner's office as Aiden Cruz, 5; Jayden Cruz, 6; and Angel Rodriguez, 11.

The video in this story is from a previous report

The deadly blaze was in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood's 4000-block of West Potomac Avenue Sunday morning, police said.



Two adults were also injured in the blaze, police said. A 40-year-old woman was taken to West Suburban Hospital in good condition with minor smoke inhalation, officials said. A man, 35, was taken to St. Mary's with minor smoke inhalation and was in good condition, police said.

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Flames blocked the back door the only exit - forcing the mother to break a window and escape, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by an open flame in one of the back rooms, Langford said.

Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report
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