Woman Killed In Pilsen Fire

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A woman was killed and a firefighter was injured in an apartment fire early Monday in the Pilsen neighborhood.

The fire started at about 2 a.m. at a two-flat in the 1800 block of South Peoria Street. Flames were seen pouring from the second-floor windows, as firefighters attacked the flames from the ground and the roof.

Police and fire department officials said a 48-year-old woman was found badly burned in the second-floor apartment. She was taken to Stroger Hospital in grave condition, and later was pronounced dead.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said the woman has not yet been identified.

Joseph Bereckis, a neighbor who lives two doors down, said he knows the owner of the building, but isn't sure if she's the victim. He said he hasn't seen that woman in about a month.

"She had tenants in there on the first floor, or second floor. If that was her, I don't know that, but she was a very good woman," Bereckis said.

A firefighter also was taken to the hospital for minor cuts to his hand.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Firefighters returned to the scene of the deadly fire around 10 a.m. to pass out free smoke detectors to any neighbors who needed them, in hopes of preventing another tragedy.

• Pilsen
• Fire