Chicago Alderman Joe Moore is urging people who can’t afford to pay their electric bills to contact the city for help.
The family devastated by yesterday’s fatal fire in Moore’s ward had no electricity. Fire fighters believe they were lighting their apartment with candles, which may have ignited the blaze.
Moore says if the family had connected with city programs that help people pay for utilities, there may have been no fire.
“They were working with a social service agency in my neighborhood, so they were not totally isolated,” Moore said. “But I think there was not a sufficient awareness of the fact that they did have their utilities shut off. Again, if we had known, maybe we could have helped them.”
Moore says his office has helped set up a fund to assist the remaining family members. He asks people to contact the Rogers Park Community Council for more information.