Schiller Park man charged with arson after fire at Lincoln Park Zoo's Cafe Brauer
A Schiller Park man has been charged in the fire at a Lincoln Park Zoo cafe last month, according to Chicago police.
Stephen Habel, 46, is charged with arson and arson causing injury to a firefighter, police said.
@chicago.suntimes A man possibly trying to stay warm apparently started a fire in a storage area for a popular Lincoln Park restaurant early Friday. The man and a firefighter were taken to hospitals when propane tanks began burning at 4:20 a.m. at Cafe Brauer, 2021 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago Fire Department officials said. “The fire was in the shed where the propane tanks are stored,” said fire department spokesperson Larry Langford. “The tanks were on fire.” A hazardous materials alarm was called during the emergency because propane is flammable. A firefighter was taken to Rush University Medical Center with a “very minor” injury while the 46-year-old man possibly involved with the fire was hospitalized with a medical issue and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was in fair condition, police said. Neither injury was burn-related. Story: Mohammad Samra/Sun-Times Video: Courtesy of Catalina Marulanda
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Firefighters responded to the scene of a reported fire when propane tanks began burning at 4:20 a.m. Nov. 22 at Cafe Brauer, Chicago Fire Department officials said. The fire was quickly extinguished, though a hazardous materials alarm was called because propane is flammable.
A firefighter was taken to Rush University Medical Center with a “very minor” injury, while Habel was hospitalized with a medical issue and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was in fair condition, police said. Zoo officials confirmed no animals were harmed.
Officials had initially reported Habel may have been trying to stay warm.