An Illinois family is trying to pick up the pieces after a devastating house fire. The fire destroyed their multi-family home. Additionally, other homes in the area were impacted. The home had been in the family for many years, causing an extra level of devastation.
While there’s still no motive, shortly after the fire, it was discovered that the person who started the fire knew the homeowners. Not only that, the fire was started while the homeowner was getting married, and the arsonist was a guest at the wedding.
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The fire broke out in Cicero, Illinois, on Saturday, February 15, 2025, shortly after 4:50 p.m., WGN reported. The house fire, as well as the explosion it caused, were captured by surveillance cameras in the area. Things from inside the home, as well as bricks and other debris could be seen flying, hitting cars and other buildings.
According to neighbors, flames engulfed the building within seconds.
“I ran here in my wedding dress, like down the alley, and was watching from a neighbor’s yard,” homeowner and bride Eleni Vrettos, told WGN. She was getting married in the area at the time. As the ceremony ended around 5 p.m., she began getting calls.
“We weren’t sure if it was us, obviously, either way we were devastated to know it was near us,” she said. “My niece left the church, she confirmed that, yes, it was our house, because people were saying a couple down.”
Vrettos and her brother recently took over ownership of the home from their mother. She had owned it for 40 years. Since they were helping with home renovations, they were in the process of transferring the homeowner’s insurance. As a result, they were not covered at the time of the fire.
A total of 11 units and families were impacted by the house fire. In addition to the Vrettos’ home, two nearby buildings were damaged.
“I’m just really scared for the unknown,” Vrettos said. “The building belonged to my family for almost 40 years. Yeah, I grew up here, so I live, lived here, and I work in the community. And I mean, Cicero is all I really know,” she said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family as they try to recover. In addition to her home, Vrettos lost her four beloved cats. Two other cats that were her mother’s also died in the fire.
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At the time of the fire, investigators announced a body was found at the scene. On Saturday, March 1, the remains were identified, ABC 7 Chicago reported. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, the remains belonged to 31-year-old Anthony Avila-Puebla. Police say that he is the person who started the fire and caused the explosion.
Originally, Avila-Puebla was at Vrettos’ wedding, but family said he disappeared during the ceremony. Police confirmed he was in a relationship with someone who lived in the home.
Detectives said that he was seen on the surveillance camera parking his car about a half block away from the house. He then took jugs full of flammable liquid out of the car at least twice. He then took the jugs into the building.
Police say he set the fire, but he never came back outside. They are still investigating possible motive.
