A malfunctioning space heater caused the fire that seriously injured a toddler and an elderly man Wednesday in Burnside, Chicago police said.
Officials said firefighters responded to a fire in a residential building in the 700-block of East 91st Street shortly before 4:30 p.m.
Witnesses driving by saw smoke pouring through the windows and roof before firefighters even arrived. "My friend was throwing her shoes at the window because we didn't know if anyone was in the building or not," one witness said.
Firefighters said they found a 94-year-old man and a 2-year-old boy unconscious in a back bedroom.
"As soon as they located the child, firefighters brought the child out and began performing CPR," Chicago Deputy District Chief Bryan McKermitt said.