Woman Dies After Jumping To Escape North Side Fire

CHICAGO, IL — A woman has died after trying to escape from a fire on Chicago's North Side, officials said. The 51-year-old jumped from an apartment building in the Rogers Park neighborhood, authorities said. The fire broke out Tuesday morning in the 1700 block of West Touhy Avenue.

The fire started around 5:20 a.m. in some rubbish and spread rapidly up the back porches into the building, officials said.

The woman jumped from the apartment before crews could rescue her, the fire department said. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said. She has been identified as Maria Silva, 51, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune.

Another woman suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital, officials said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Image via Chicago Fire Department