Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The mother of two young boys who died in house fire early Monday morning died Tuesday afternoon, hospital officials said. Fire officials announced Tuesday that the fire accidental in nature and started because of an overloaded outlet in a Southwest Side home. Another woman was also injured in the blaze.

Juan Escareno, 10 months, and Jesse Escareno, 3, were pronounced dead at 5:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Cross Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. They boys died of carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation, according to autopsies conducted Tuesday. The boys were in cardiac arrest when firefighters arrived, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.

Firefighters found the boys' mother, 24-year-old Maria Escareno, unconscious with her sons near a first-floor window. She was taken to Holy Cross in cardiac arrest and airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where she died Tuesday. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

Fire Media Affairs Assistant Director Eve Rodriguez said Tuesday the fire was caused by "misuse or overload of extension cords, meaning too many appliances, including a space heater, were plugged into one outlet."

The fire started in the basement of the 1 1⁄2-story, single-family house at 3216 W. 66th Pl. about 4:45 a.m. Monday, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.

Another woman was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County with second-degree burns on her hands, but her injuries are not life-threatening, Langford said.

The two boys are also survived by two sisters and their father, who was working an overnight shift when the fire broke out. Maria Escareno's daughters, Jovanna, 7, and Cristina, 4, escaped and are staying with relatives. Four other people escaped unharmed.

The home did have at least two smoke detectors on the upper floors. It is not clear if either one went off. The tragedy prompted firefighters to canvas the neighborhood handing out free detectors and a DVD on fire safety. By law, homes must have a working smoke alarm within 15 feet of a bedroom.

The fire was contained to the basement and smoke damage was limited to the first floor, Langford said.

Investigators believe at least three families were living in the home, which may have been illegally converted into a boarding house. A Buildings Department representative says inspectors started an investigation into the matter and preliminary reports indicate rooms may have been built in the basement.

That representative couldn't tell CBS 2 who owned the home but says there is no record of any permits, inspections or request for an inspection – meaning any work done on the home was done illegally.

At least 10 people were living in the house, and the fire department requested building department officials check for illegal conversions. However, inspectors could not get into the house to inspect it Monday.

Langford said the home was akin to a "rooming house" with mattresses on the floor and rooms filled with stashes of canned goods and children's clothing.

Most neighbors say they didn't really know the people who lived here and believe they recently moved into the home.

"I know them. I feel bad for them because they had just moved in there. Me and my wife this year we gave them a sofa and a chair because they needed the furniture," neighbor Francisco Flores said.

Another neighbor, Rubin Regnaldo, said many residents of the neighborhood had to find ways to live with rents that exceeded their means.

"Mexican people try to help each other, because the rents are so high and they are all minimum wage," Regnaldo said.

CBS 2's Joanie Lum and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

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