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Update: Fire victims were trapped on roof, firetrucks blocked from rescue by illegally parked cars

Neighbors near the fire late last night at 26 Henderson St. watched in terror as a family with kids was forced onto the roof to await fire trucks delayed by illegally parked cars. The city is now looking at whether street parking should be allowed in the neighborhood.

"They could not get the trucks close enough to that house," said neighbor Joe Lynch, who is also running for Ward 5 Alderman. "You could have lost five lives in this city last night because of the neglect of elected officials."

Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan said he's aware of the parking problems in his neighborhood and is now working with Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher to come up with a solution.

"People aren't going to be happy if they can't park on their street, but public safety will take precedence," said O'Donovan.

Firefighters were able to save clothes and a few belongings of the family living on the second floor of 26 Henderson St. According to witnesses, fire trucks could not access the street or a hydrant because of illegally parked cars.

The fire started in a first-floor bedroom, where firefighters were able to keep it contained. The initial call for the fire came in at 10:14 p.m. and a second alarm was sounded at 10:20 p.m. Firefighters didn't leave the scene until 1:15 a.m. There was smoke damage throughout the entire two-family house.

"Even though they kept it contained to the room of origin, they have to chase it to make sure it didn't go up to another floor," said Fire Lt. Tom Salemme.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

According to fire reports, residents of the second and third floors were trapped and hand to climb onto the roof where policemen and firefighters were able to get them down.

A couple lived on the first floor. A family, including children, lived on the second floor.

Lynch said fire trucks were not able to get onto the street or hook up to a hydrant because of illegally parked cars.

"The first problem is providing safety. For this city to stand there and say, 'We're investigating'…you don't investigate. You start towing every goddamned car that's parked illegally," said Lynch. "I can't get it out of my head…those kids hanging out the window with black smoke coming out behind them calling for help."

While the fire department was struggling to get down the street, Lynch said some neighbors grabbed garden hoses and tried to help out.

O'Donovan said parking control officers have been told to ticket cars that are within 20 feet of an intersection, but that isn't always enough. Kelleher will be doing an analysis of Henderson and surrounding streets to determine the best way to get clunky fire trucks down them. That could mean no more street parking, O'Donovan said.