PILSEN —The man who died in one of seven devastating fires in Pilsen Friday has been officially identified as 59-year-old Venancio Veracruz Benitez, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
A hardworking man who came from Mexico to the U.S. to support his family in Mexico, Veracruz was also known as Guadalupe Salgado, according to a Univision report. Veracruz was living in the converted garage before his death, a source confirmed.
At about 2:45 a.m. Friday, firefighters were called to an alley near 2151 W. 21st St., where responders Veracruz was later pronounced dead at the scene at about 3:34 a.m., according to the medical examiner's office.
A preliminary investigation determined the man likely died of smoke inhalation, according to Larry Langford, fire department spokesman.
"There were no obvious signs of trauma, like bullet holes," Langford said.
A determination of the cause and manner of death under a second investigation by the medical examiner's office is pending.
To honor his memory, the Pilsen-Humboldt Park Anti-Gentrification Group will host a candlelight vigil from 7-10 p.m. Thursday at Harrison Park, 1824 S. Wood St. The vigil will begin at the park's field house and end and Veracruz's former home on 21st Street.
To help his family with burial, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched online. The campaign aims to raise $5,000.
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 Veracruz 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.
The Friday arsons were set in a 45-minute period, investigators revealed Monday.
An eighth suspicious garage fire was reported in the area early Tuesday.
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, according to Officer Kevin Quaid, a Chicago Police spokesman.
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.
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 $14,700 to date.
Donations can also be dropped off at Whittier Elementary, 1900 W. 23rd St., from 8:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Wednesday.
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