A teen was among four family members who died in a townhouse fire in Rogers Park early Thursday morning.
The Chicago Fire Department said a fire broke out at a two-story residential building in the 7000 block of North Paulina Street, right off Greenleaf Avenue, just before 4:15 a.m.
Four people were found unresponsive, police said. CFD said four victims were given CPR and taken to local hospitals.
Chicago police confirmed the victims were later pronounced dead. Relatives said the victims were a 69-year-old mother, her 48-year-old daughter, and two grandchildren, ages 24 and 13.
The family's church identified them as Marisa Garcia, Valentino Vallejo, Frankie Vallejo, and Maria Garcia.
The family dog died as well.
The 48-year-old's two sisters said they are still processing their family's loss, but they want their sister to be remembered as someone who was loved in the Rogers Park community. They said she was very involved in St. Jerome Catholic Church.
They also said their mother was an amazing woman, and their nephews were well-loved.
They don't know how the fire started, but said it happened quickly. All four family members managed to get down to the first floor, and were trying to get out through the back door.
They had lived in the townhome since 2005.
FedEx driver Kenyatta Jones said he delivered packages to their home frequently, and the family stuck out to him. He saw smoke as he was working Thursday morning.
"I went past the neighborhood, just out of curiosity again, just from the last incident I just seen this morning. I look and I seen the home. I was talking to my wife. I'm like, 'Hold on, I know that home,' because I'm used to delivering all through here. So, when I stopped over there, my heart kind of dropped. I was like, 'Oh, whoa, I know that family. I know the older lady. I know the mother. I know the kids.'"
Ald. Maria Hadden (49th), who represents Rogers Park, said firefighters responded quickly after neighbors called 911.
"This is a tight-knit community. You're seeing neighbors who are also impacted by this loss, and of course by the fire, who are taking care of one another, and right now, our prayers are just with the extended family," she said.
Neighbors described a chaotic scene as they were forced out of their homes in the middle of the night, some in pajamas and without their phones.
"It was the middle of the night. I heard somebody screaming outside: 'Help! Help!' And then out — I called my wife. She was right next to me," said neighbor Salman Ansari. "We both came out running, and the house was on fire next door."
Ansari saw fire bursting from his neighbor's home, and a gust of heavy smoke.
Residents described seeing flames shooting from their neighbors' windows.
"I could not even register what was happening, it was so fast," Ansari said.
Ansari became emotional as he talked about a woman with two sons she picks up late at night. He said he had seen her on Wednesday night and had said goodnight, only to learn early Thursday morning that she had died in the fire.
Ansari said he knew the family who lived in the burned unit for 25 years.
On Thursday night, Gloria Jimenez brought flowers to the home where four of her relatives died.
"We're pretty sad right now. We don't have the right words to express ourselves right now, especially from the other side of the family. It's something pretty sad," she said through an interpreter.
The victims' family has set up an online fundraiser to help pay for the funerals.
"There are simply no words to describe the heartbreak of losing not one, but four people we love so deeply, all at once. Our hearts are shattered, and we are facing a reality we never could have prepared for," they wrote.
Neighbor Elta Marquez said she would regularly walk past the family's home while heading to the nearby Metra station.
"When you pass people a million times, you might not know their names, but I remember they had the best Halloween decorations and they had a cute dog," she said.
Frank Adu, a neighbor and close family friend, said he could hear the victims' screams for help. Adu said he needs to find somewhere else to stay for the night because of the smoke damage to his home. He said he doesn't know if he will ever return.
"We can't just pass here every day, knowing that some people we have a relationship with is just gone," he said. "My heart is bleeding. These were our good neighbors. They are just so sweet."
The cause of the fire remained under investigation Thursday night
