A fire in an apartment building at the corner of 87th Street and Roberts Avenue in Hickory Hills at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday resulted in one death and placed another victim in serious condition, according to Roberts Park fire Chief Jason Bray.
Police and fire from Hickory Hills and other neighboring southland areas responded to the scene. The Cook County medical examiner’s office did not immediately respond to a request for the name and age of the person who died.
Someone who happened to be passing the building saw smoke coming from one of the apartments and called 911, according to Hickory Hills police Deputy Chief Adam Gulczynski.
While a more exhaustive investigation into the cause of the deadly fire is underway, preliminary findings from the fire marshals, detectives and investigators who suggest the fire started in the bedroom of an apartment and was likely caused by cigarette smoke. Gulczynski said Tuesday smoking materials appear to have ignited the bedding in the bedroom.
Gulczynski also said the building is still intact and only a few of the units are damaged from smoke and some water from first responders’ fire extinguishing methods.
The Roberts Park Fire Protection District reminded individuals to ensure smoke alarms in their homes are operating properly.
“Working smoke alarms can more than double your chance of escaping a structure in the case of a fire,” the department posted on its Facebook page.