Teen among 4 killed in townhouse fire in Rogers Park

A teen was among four people who died in a townhouse fire in Rogers Park early Thursday morning. 

The Chicago Fire Department said a fire broke out at a two-story residential building in the 7000 block of North Paulina Street, right off Greenleaf Avenue, just before 4:15 a.m.

Four people were found unresponsive, police said. CFD said four victims were given CPR and taken to local hospitals. 

Chicago police confirmed the victims were later pronounced dead. 

Police confirmed the victims include a 13-year-old boy, a 22-year-old man, and two women ages 46 and 69. 

"The Fire Department responded quickly — neighbors called," said Ald. Maria Hadden (49th). "This is a tight-knit community. You're seeing neighbors who are also impacted by this loss, and of course by the fire, who are taking care of one another, and right now, our prayers are just with the extended family."

Neighbors described a chaotic scene as they were forced out of their homes in the middle of the night, some in pajamas and without their phones.

"It was the middle of the night. I heard somebody screaming outside: 'Help! Help!' And then out — I called my wife. She was right next to me," said neighbor Salman Ansari. "We both came out running, and the house was on fire next door."

Ansari saw fire bursting from his neighbor's home, and a gust of heavy smoke.

Residents described seeing flames shooting from their neighbors' windows.

"I could not even register what was happening, it was so fast," Ansari said.

Ansari became emotional as he talked about a woman with two sons she picks up late at night. He said he had seen her on Wednesday night and had said goodnight, only to learn early Thursday morning that she had died in the fire.

Ansari said he knew the family who lived in the burned unit for 25 years.

Hadden confirmed a dog died in addition to the four people.

No other injuries were reported in the fire.

Hadden said some of the neighbors will not be able to go home on Thursday, as their units need to be aired out. But it did not appear that there was any damage to neighboring homes.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Thursday morning.