The fire started at about 10:13 am on block 700 on West Oakton Street. A passerby saw smoke and called 911.
The fire started on Wednesday on the second floor near the top of the stairs, which was the unit’s only entrance and exit. Firefighters said there were no smoke detectors working on the unit.
Downstairs neighbor Pabel Marrero said he woke up first to the familiar sound of children running up the stairs and then to the disturbing smell of burning plastic and a stranger passing by knocking on the door.
“He’s shouting at me to leave the house because the house is on fire,” Marrero said.
“I was shocked,” said Yein Espinosa, whose brother lost his four daughters in the fire. “I was worried about the kids, the girls, a lot and everyone in there. Where are they? What happened to them?”
Espinoza said the family remains heartbroken.
“They were incredible children, full of happiness … they were incredible children, incredible children,” said Espinoza.
Firefighters discovered that there were still people inside the two-story duplex side by side and immediately started a search and rescue operation.
“We are saying to them, ‘There are children up there, children up there,'” said Merrero. “They are trying to knock the door down, but the door was not coming down.”
“This is a terrible day”, Des Plaines fire chief informs about fatal fire
When firefighters entered the black smoke and flames, it may well have been too late.
“One of the firefighters comes out with one of the girls in his hand and she is blackened by all the smoke and everything else. She is semi-conscious,” said Marrero. “A minute or two goes by, another one leaves in the same condition.”
The four sisters who died were identified as Grace Espinosa, 1, Allizon V. Espinosa, 3, Genesis A. Espinosa, 5, and Renata P. Espinosa, 6, according to Cook County medical examiner.
“They were incredible children, full of joy and games,” said Espinosa.
The children were taken to hospitals and declared dead, while their mother, Citahaly Zamiodo, 25, died at the scene, officials said.
“This is a tragedy that I did not see in my 34, 36 years of fire service,” said Des Plaines fire chief Daniel Anderson. “This is a terrible day, a tragic day for Des Plaines.”
Neighbors said the girls’ father was working when he was contacted about the fire. Sam Kuraishi said he owns a landscaping company and helps his neighbors. Kuraishi had just paid him this morning for cleaning his sidewalk.
“A wonderful man,” said Kuraishi. “Never hurt anyone. The guy is very helpful.”
Several agencies responded to help put out the fire at home. A fireman sustained a knee injury and a police officer suffered a minor cut, officials said.
Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.