1 Dead, 4 Injured In Fire Being Investigated As Arson: Police

CHICAGO — A 31-year-old man is dead after police said he jumped from a 7th floor apartment to escape a fire which was set on purpose.

Fire officials responded to the building on the 400 block of West Wrightwood Avenue at around 5 p.m. Monday, according to a statement. There, crews found a man on the ground and pronounced him dead at the scene.

He was later identified as Demarlo Branch, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Four officers were taken to the hospital and treated for minor smoke inhalation after the incident. A fire spokesman said the flames were contained to just one apartment on the 7th floor.

Originally, fire officials said the smoke was due to a "pot of meat" but police are now investigating the fire as an arson.