Building owner charged in deaths of firefighters

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez says a criminal charge filed against the owner of a building where two Chicago firefighters died last year sends an important message to other property owners.

The prosecutor’s office filed a criminal contempt of court action Wednesday against 62-year-old Chuck Dai of South Holland. He owned the vacant laundry building that burned. He had failed to comply with a court order requiring him to secure and repair the South Side property.

Thursday is the anniversary of the fatal fire. A roof collapse crushed and killed 47-year-old Edward Stringer and 34-year-old Corey Ankum, and injured more than a dozen other firefighters.

Alvarez says owners of vacant and abandoned properties have a legal and a civic responsibility to maintain them in a safe and responsible fashion.