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12-Year-Old Girl Dies in Back of the Yards Fire, 8 Others Hospitalized

By Kelly Bauer | September 26, 2015 1:17pm | Updated on September 27, 2015 7:01am

CHICAGO — A fire in the Back of the Yards killed a 12-year-old girl on Friday night, according to the Fire Department.

The 10 p.m. fire at 5044 S. Carpenter St. was caused by careless use of smoking items, said Chief Juan Hernandez, Chicago Fire spokesman. The house was already fully engulfed and fire was going through the roof when authorities arrived, Hernandez said.

Fire officials found several people laying in front of the home, Hernandez said. Four people were immediately taken to hospitals, with two going to Holy Cross, one to St. Bernard and one person in critical condition going to Stroger Hospital, Hernandez said.

A 12-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified as Tatianna Joseph by Cook County Medical Examiner's Office records. She was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m., and an autopsy showed she died of smoke inhalation and injuries from the fire, according to the records.

About two hours after fire officials arrived, four more people were taken to area hospitals for smoke inhalation, Hernandez said.

The Fire Department passed out fire alarms for people in the area at 10 a.m. Saturday.

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