Flames and heavy black smoke captured on cell phone video surrounded the area and were shooting from the roof of the building at Hubbard Avenue and Orleans Street about 1:20 p.m. Smoke could be seen for blocks and the roof was charred from the fire.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the deadly blaze at The Mart Parc Orleans Self Park Garage, 437 N. Orleans St., officials told the media.

Chicago Fire Department Battalion Chief Cynthia Herring told the press that the five were roofing workers who were working at the facility at the time of the tragedy. Dozens of emergency vehicles converged on the scene near Chicago’s downtown area as firefighters battled the blaze at the top of the 10-story structure. The garage remained closed for several hours while fire officials investigated the incident.

Watch more on WGN9.

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Two welders were working in the 4500 block of West Byron Street when the tragedy occurred, according to officials. The two men were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where one tragically died. There were reportedly 17 workers in the area repairing the tracks. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is investigating the cause of the explosion.

Clifford Law Offices has represented many injured workers or the families of those who have died in explosions or in rail incidents. The most widely publicized incident involving Metra was that of internationally-acclaimed violinist Rachel Barton who was severely injured when a Metra train ran over her after dragging her on the North Line some 300 feet. She survived. The case was tried and resulted in a $29.6 million verdict that ultimately settled for $35 million.

The incident occurred about 11:45 a.m. on elevated tracks about seven miles from downtown Chicago. The cause of the explosion is not yet known. Nearby neighbors reported to the Chicago Tribune that they heard a loud boom that shook their house.

To learn more about if you need a lawyer if you are involved in an incident involving a train line, go to https://www.cliffordlaw.com/train-accident-faq/

There you will find a Q and A with Clifford Law Offices’ partner, Kevin P. Durkin, who has handled dozens of transportation incidents in his legal career on behalf of plaintiffs and their families including serving as Co-Lead Counsel in the litigation involving the crash of an Amtrak train in Bourbonnais that left 13 people dead, and he currently represents 30 of the 33 people injured or killed in the Amtrak derailment of December, 2017, in Seattle, Washington.

The post Explosion on Metra Tracks Kills One Worker, Severely Injures Another on Chicago’s Northwest Side appeared first on Clifford Law Offices.

Homer Glen officials reportedly are allowing some of the nearly two dozen evacuated residents in a two-mile radius of that home to return to their homes, but Nicor gas workers have to accompany them to ensure that turning the gas back on in their homes is safe.

Nicor spokesman, Joe DelReal, told the media that repairs have been made to the leaking underground pipe involved in the blast, but he was not more specific about what caused the leak in the first place. It also has been reported that there was a natural gas project on that block in the past year. There remains a lot of questions to be answered as of this hour.

The post Update on Homer Glen Gas Explosion appeared first on Clifford Law Offices.

Neighbors reported the smell of gas outside before the house exploded at the intersection of South Parker Road and 143rd Street. People within a two-mile radius were asked to evacuate the area and were put up at the village’s Community Room. The Red Cross provided food for those who were displaced.

Learn More About Our Experience in Explosion And Burn Injury Cases

Nicor gas officials still were trying to locate the origin of the gas leak, according to news reports, hours after the explosion and were asking the nearby residents not to return to their homes until the source was located and it was capped.

Roads were closed and Commonwealth Edison also shut off electric power in the area as firefighters fought the blaze in the bitter cold. Smoke and flames reportedly could be seen for miles away from the explosion.

The post Two People Injured in Gas Explosion of Their Homer Glen House appeared first on Clifford Law Offices.

Belleville, Illinois residents Tony Carillo, 38, and Greg Powers, 28, both employees of RJ Corman Derailment Services of Nicholasville, Kentucky, were badly injured in a Level 3 haz-mat derailment cleanup near West Point, Kentucky, in October, 2012.

Powers suffered second and third degree burns over 70 percent of his body as well as inhalation injuries to his throat and lungs. His month-long hospital stay required multiple debridement and skin grafting procedures. He has developed bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome in both arms requiring surgery and endured extensive and painful physical therapy since the incident.

Carillo suffered first and third degree burns over 40 percent of his body including on both arms, his torso and back. He was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital where he underwent multiple debridements and skin grafts.

“This incident was completely avoidable had the companies involved taken reasonable precautions,” Clifford said following the settlement. “These men and their families are changed forever. Burns are very serious injuries – both painful and disfiguring.”

Clifford Law Offices brought claims against CSX Transportation, Inc.; Paducah & Louisville Railway Co.; and the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, all of whom contributed to the settlement. Tad Thomas of Thomas Law Offices in Louisville, Kentucky, and Brad Badgley of Brad L. Badgley P.C. in Belleville, Illinois, also represented the two injured workers.

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For further information, contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909.

The post Clifford Law Offices Obtains $18.5 Million Settlement in Derailment Fire for Two Workers appeared first on Clifford Law Offices.

Five people were injured, most suffering smoke inhalation. Among the injured was a Chicago police officer. The apartment dweller where the fire broke out reportedly got out safely. Shoppers and tourists saw fire and smoke billowing from the apartment as record snow fell.

The fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. and quickly escalated to a two alarm fire because it is a high rise. The building, 100 stories high, houses apartments, offices and stores.

The cause of the blaze that the Chicago Fire Department reported destroyed much of the apartment is still under investigation. The building was not evacuated during the fire.

To see video of the blaze, view CNN’s coverage of the fire CNN’s coverage of the fire.

The post Fire on the 50th Floor at John Hancock Building Injures Five appeared first on Clifford Law Offices.

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Four teens were taken to area hospitals where early reports indicate that one student suffered facial burns. One student is in serious to critical condition, two are in fair condition and one is in good condition, fire officials reported to the press. A fifth student declined treatment. Chicago firemen reported to ABC­7 that at least one student suffered facial burns. Another was burned on both arms, according to media reports.

Apparently a single ­burner stove overheated hot chocolate that exploded, according to media reports. The Chicago Sun­-Times reported that the gas burner ignited, sending flames to the ceiling. The explosion was so loud that it could be heard in the next classroom and students began running out of the room, ABC­7 reported from witnesses. School sprinklers went off to help douse the flames, according to media reports.

The school is located in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago on the North Side.

The post Five High School Students Injured in Explosion During Cooking Class at Chicago High School appeared first on Clifford Law Offices.

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Around children …

• Keep gasoline out of sight and secured away from children.
• Never let children handle gasoline.
• Download this tip sheet for parents from the National Gasoline Safety Project.

Around the home …

• Store gasoline outside the home (e.g., in a garage or tool shed) in a safety can as described above – never in glass or non-reusable plastic containers (e.g., milk jugs).
• Don’t use or store gasoline near possible ignition sources (e.g., electrical devices, oil- or gas-fired appliances, or any other device that contains a pilot flame or a spark).
• Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent.

 Around the yard and outdoors …

• Don’t use gas to start or accelerate a charcoal grill, wood stove, brush or camp fire or any other fire source.
• Let machinery cool before refueling.
• Clean up spills promptly and discard cleanup materials properly.
• Never use gasoline in place of kerosene.
• Don’t smoke when handling gasoline.

On the road …

• Don’t get in and out of your vehicle when fueling, as an electrical charge on your body could spark a fire.
• Place the gas can on the ground before filling, not inside a vehicle or in the bed of a pick-up truck.

And if a gas can fire starts …

• Do not attempt to extinguish the fire or stop the flow of gasoline. Leave the area immediately, and call for help.

For more detailed information, visit the National Fire Protection Association gasoline fire page.

The post Some Helpful Tips on Explosions and Who You Can Contact appeared first on Clifford Law Offices.