Fireworks Cause of Pilsen Extra-Alarm Fire

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 5, 2011 4:00PM

A fire yesterday that damaged three buildings in Pilsen was sparked by children playing with fireworks, according to the Fire Department.

Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff told the Tribune that two or three children were playing with fireworks on the back porch of 1323 W. 18th St. An witness to the fire said the back porch went up in flames and quickly spread to 1319 and 1317 W. 18th St. due to their close proximity to the first building. By the time firefighters arrived to the scene, one of the apartments at 1323 W. 18th was fully engulfed by fire.

An 80-year-old woman was treated for smoke inhalation at UIC Medical Center.