Man who died in house fire in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood identified

CHICAGO (CBS) — A man who died in a house fire earlier this week in the Pilsen neighborhood has been identified.

J Bernabe Barbosa, 56, was critically injured in a fire Tuesday afternoon at his home in the 1900 block of South May Street around 3 p.m. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:42 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Extreme cold temperatures complicated firefighters’ efforts to put out the fire, as water from firehoses iced over on the porch, and there were reports of frozen hydrants causing problems for firefighters.

In addition to the bitter cold, there were hoarder conditions inside the house, and crews had concerns the flames could spread to a neighboring home.

Firefighters and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) returned to the block on Thursday to pass out free smoke detectors and fire safety literature to neighbors, a common procedure for the Fire Department after a fatal fire.

The Fire Department urged people to regularly check their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working properly.