An inferno tore through an Evanston commercial building Sunday night, leaving a popular pottery studio in ruins and causing street closures. Firefighters battled the three-alarm blaze that erupted around 8:30 p.m. at 1402 Greenleaf St., according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The fire department's aggressive response prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings, with the situation brought largely under control by 1 a.m. Monday.
While the Evanston Fire Department honed in on the firefighting efforts, 11 surrounding fire departments were called to assist, leading some streets to be closed as of early Monday, notably impacting Greenleaf Street, Ashland, Wesley, and Asbury Avenues. A statement obtained by NBC Chicago from Evanston Fire Department Division Chief Kimberly Kull noted "The structural integrity of the building is pretty much compromised," indicating a lengthy wait ahead for a full investigation into the fire's origin.
No injuries were reported in connection with the fire, as the building was vacant when the fire broke out. However, local residents were displaced due to extensive smoke and fire damage. Officials deployed seven fire lines and three master streams to contain the blaze, which remained with hot spots up until 5 a.m., reported the Evanston Fire Department.
The cause of the fire at the building, which housed a pottery studio and was described as "ravaged" by the overnight fire, is still under investigation according to fire officials. As crews continue cleanup efforts, residents and businesses in the area face disruptions due to the ongoing street closures. "It will be awhile before we can do the investigation," Kull told NBC Chicago, indicating the severity of the damage to the structure.
