Inspectors found the Albany Park apartment had no carbon monoxide or fire alarms, leading to a tragic incident involving a young girl
Chicago: The tragic incident happened in an Albany Park apartment where a 10-year-old girl lost her life. The place had a faulty boiler and was missing crucial carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors.
Firefighters found high levels of carbon monoxide in the apartment early Monday morning. Jayrinne Sequeida was discovered unconscious around 5:30 a.m., and a 12-year-old was also taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Sadly, Jayrinne was pronounced dead at Swedish Covenant Hospital. The Cook County medical examiner and Chicago police confirmed the news.
The Buildings Department cited the apartment building for 11 code violations. Both the third-floor unit where Jayrinne lived and the basement unit lacked the necessary alarms.
They also noted the building’s boiler was malfunctioning, and firefighters had to shut it off along with the gas supply. The inspection revealed dangerous wiring and issues with the chimney.
Legally, homes must have carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors. It’s the landlord’s job to ensure these are in place and working.
One of the building’s owners, Steven Trevino, didn’t comment on the missing detectors or the boiler issues. The other owners, James and Kathleen Beck, also didn’t respond to requests for comments.
Firefighters measured carbon monoxide levels at 300 parts per million, which is alarmingly high. A detector would typically alert at just 10 ppm, giving residents time to escape.
According to a fire department spokesperson, high levels of carbon monoxide can be deadly, especially with prolonged exposure. For example, 1,000 ppm can be fatal in about 30 minutes.
In colder weather, if a home is sealed tight and the furnace runs continuously, carbon monoxide can build up quickly, making it even more dangerous.
