Separate West Englewood fires miles apart leave 1 woman dead, 1 injured, Chicago police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Fires just miles apart in West Englewood have left one woman dead and another seriously injured, Chicago police said.

The first fire was at about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 7000-block of South Bell Avenue.

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Police said firefighters responded to the scene, extinguished the fire and found a 75-year-old woman with burns on her body.

The woman was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead, police said. No other injuries were reported.

daughter of the woman killed in fire was just too upset to talk when she returned to the scene Thursday morning.

She describes her mother as a "phenomenal woman" who had a number of kids, grandkids and great grandkids.

"About 20 years ago, I had a fire in my home, so I know how devastating it can be," neighbor Noel Hylton said. "This is the worst fire I've ever seen."

Hylton is still at a loss for words after his next-door neighbor was killed in a late night house fire.

Hylton said he was at work while the fire raged next door. Hylton said his wife was asleep at the time.

"She smelled smoke," Hylton said. "She looked out the window and saw the firetrucks because she was in the house asleep. Once she looked out the window she saw how big the blaze was."

Juliana Smith, 75, was killed in the fire, according to her daughter

The Chicago Fire Department says Smith was found with burns and was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she died.

Smith's daughter said Juliana had five children and a growing family.

Now, the torched remains of her mother's home is all that's left.

A few hours later, firefighters were busy responding to another large fire at 6300-block of South Oakley Avenue,, just a few minutes away from the fire on Bell Avenue.

Investigators said a 39-year-old woman was also rushed to the University of Chicago in serious condition after three homes caught fire just after 1 this morning.

A neighbor said he got home from work as the fire was burning right next to his home.

"It was literally this close to reach the roof of my house," the neighbor said. "My son, he called me, something is on fire, I can smell. He was sleeping and I had just come back from work."

No other injuries were reported and four adults were displaced, police said.

Chicago police and the Chicago Fire Department are investigating the cause of the fires.