PILSEN — The seven devastating arsons that left one man dead and dozens without shelter were set in a 45-minute period early Friday in Pilsen, Chicago Police revealed Monday.
Investigators are releasing the fire timeline as they seek more surveillance footage and information from neighbors living near the arson sites, said Officer Kevin Quaid, a Chicago Police spokesman.
Around 3 a.m. Friday, nearly 100 firefighters and police responded to calls of separate fires around the Pilsen and Heart of Chicago neighborhoods. The seven blazes left one man dead and 25 people displaced in Pilsen. Officials believe the seven fires were set intentionally because of the fire pattern, proximity and times, according to Chicago Fire spokesman Larry Langford.
In these incidents, unknown offender(s) ignited materials in garbage cans or items left in the alley. In some cases, the fire spread to garages or homes, police said.
Investigators do not yet know if the fires were set by one or multiple suspects, Quaid said.
According to the police timeline, the fires occurred:
• at 2:45 a.m. Friday in the 2100 block of West 21st Street, where responders found a man unresponsive inside a garage, police said. He was later pronounced dead.
A preliminary investigation determined the man likely died of smoke inhalation, Langford said. The medical examiner's office is expected to conduct a second investigation.
• at 2:55 a.m. Friday in the 2100 block of South Wood Street
• at 2:57 a.m. Friday in the 1800 block of West 21st Street
• at 3:06 a.m. Friday in the 1700 block of West 21st Street
• at 3:23 a.m. Friday in the 1800 block of West 23rd Street
• at 3:30 a.m. Friday in the 2200 block of South Blue Island Avenue, where at least 18 people were left homeless after multiple homes were destroyed, police said.
Investigators developed the fire timeline — an estimation, Quaid said — by examining 911 calls, witness accounts and early surveillance video.
Neighbors with surveillance video cameras near the fire sites or individuals who may have a description of suspicious person(s) or vehicles near the sites is asked to call investigating detectives at 312-746-7618. Callers can reference cases HZ436117, HZ436131, HZ436141, HZ436126 and HZ436136.
How you can help
To help the families in their time of need, Allison Manasse, a counselor at Whittier Elementary has launched a GoFundMe campaign online. Five of the families displaced by the Friday fires have children that attend Whittier Elementary School in Pilsen.
The campaign aims to raise $60,000 for the affected families and has raised $13,300 to date.
Donations can also be dropped off at Whittier Elementary, 1900 W. 23rd St., from 8:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.
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