Jan 13, 2009 11:24 am US/Central
Pinched Electrical Cord Likely Cause of Fatal Fire
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
A fire in a West Side home Sunday that resulted in the deaths of an elderly brother and sister who were scheduled to move into an assisted living residence the next day was likely caused by a pinched electrical cord, preliminary investigation shows.
Eva Mae Pierson, 90, and Early B. Giles, 85, were killed in the blaze, according to a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
The fire began about 2:20 a.m. in their 2 ½-story home at 1911 S. Homan Ave. It was raised to a still-and-box alarm at 2:25 a.m. and a 2-11 alarm at 2:42 a.m., according to Fire Media Affairs Asst. Director Eve Rodriguez. The fire was extinguished by 3:40 a.m.
The fire spread to the building to the north and the building to the south -- 1909 and 1915 S. Homan Ave., she said.
During a search of the home at 1911 S. Homan Ave., one victim was found in the living room and another in a bedroom, Rodriguez said. The home was completely destroyed.
Giles died from carbon monoxide intoxication and inhalation of smoke and soot from a house fire, according to a Sunday autopsy. Pierson died of inhalation injuries from the fire, as well as coronary atherosclerosis. The deaths were both ruled accidents, the medical examiner's office said.
The fire department's preliminary investigation has found that the fire was likely caused by a pinched electrical cord from a space heater, Fire Media Director Larry Langford said. He noted that further investigation and forensics tests still needed to be completed, but as of Tuesday morning it appeared as though the blaze was caused by the pinched cord.
Rodriguez said it has not been determined whether the destroyed home had working smoke detectors, but firefighters heard smoke detectors in the neighboring buildings.
Cords may become pinched or bent in the process of moving furniture or appliances. By being constricted or being doubled back on themselves, such cords overheat, melt their insulation and outer covering, and then set fire to nearby materials.
A double-amputee, Giles used a wheelchair, and Pierson used a walker. They rarely left the house, instead relying on a steady stream of neighbors and members of their church for assistance.
"They were beautiful people, and we loved helping them out," said the Rev. Herman Little, of the Mount Tabor M.B. Church, 3358 Ogden, where the funerals are expected to take place. "A group of us would bring them communion. It meant a lot to them and to us."
Pierson and Giles had lived in the neighborhood for nearly 50 years. Another sister, Ophelia Robertson, lived in the two-flat until her death last April. She was 90.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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