2 killed, 1 injured in Back of the Yards house fire

Evelyn Holmes Image
Saturday, August 27, 2016
2 killed in Back of the Yards fire
Doris Anderson, 55, was one of two people killed in a house fire in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two people were killed and another critically injured Saturday morning in a house fire in the city's Back of the Yards neighborhood, the Chicago Fire Department said.

The fire is being investigated as an arson, fire officials said.

Doris Anderson, 55, was identified by family as one of the victims.

"She was a good woman. She was funny and happy. She was a wonderful," Anderson's daughter, Latasha Anderson, said.

Neighbors said a male friend of Anderson was also killed. The man's brother who also lived in the house was injured when he jumped from a second-floor window. Two other women who possibly lived in the house escaped unharmed.

The fire broke out just before 1 a.m. in the 5400-block of South Laflin. Fire crews found the two victims dead inside the home.

"It was coming out the back, the top, the windows, the flames were just everywhere," said witness Rakeem James.

"I thought I was dreaming and I smelled smoke and I really was concerned about my garage," said Christina, who lives in the neighborhood. "I woke up, the whole alley was lit up and I'm seeing all these fire trucks outside."