Faulty wiring, missing detectors and lagging inspections lead to fatal fires in Chicago
At least 53 people have died in residential fires in Chicago since 2021. An investigation shows the city could be doing more on inspections.
According to a Better Government Association and Chicago Tribune investigation, five of those fatalities occurred in cases where the city had been made aware of safety issues in the buildings but did not make sure the problems were fixed. Meanwhile, 21 deaths happened in buildings that hadn’t been inspected by the city in at least a decade, even though they had fire safety issues.
Reset learns why the city has failed to prevent these deaths and what potential solutions there are from a reporter and a former city inspector general.
GUESTS: Alex Nitkin, Better Government Association reporter
Joe Ferguson, former City of Chicago Inspector General
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Faulty wiring, missing detectors and lagging inspections lead to fatal fires in Chicago
At least 53 people have died in residential fires in Chicago since 2021. An investigation shows the city could be doing more on inspections.
According to a Better Government Association and Chicago Tribune investigation, five of those fatalities occurred in cases where the city had been made aware of safety issues in the buildings but did not make sure the problems were fixed. Meanwhile, 21 deaths happened in buildings that hadn’t been inspected by the city in at least a decade, even though they had fire safety issues.
Reset learns why the city has failed to prevent these deaths and what potential solutions there are from a reporter and a former city inspector general.
GUESTS: Alex Nitkin, Better Government Association reporter
Joe Ferguson, former City of Chicago Inspector General