An aggressive 2-11 alarm fire wreaked havoc in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, leaving two families without a home and causing extensive damage to three houses, according to officials. No injuries have been reported from the incident that unfolded Friday evening on the 2800 block of North Christiana Avenue.

The Chicago Fire Department was forced to quickly escalate their response to wrestle the blaze under control, bringing nearly 100 firefighters to the scene. Deputy district chief Kelly Burns briefed the press on the rapid deployment, stating, "Arriving fire crews found fire at the rear of two of the homes," a fact highlighted in a Chicago Tribune report. The fire then spread to a third residence, all of which were 2 ½ story frame homes that required a considerable amount of water to extinguish.

Amid the chaotic flicker and char of what became a frenzied scene, a personal narrative of loss emerged. As reported by CBS Chicago, Gary Durbin and his elderly mother, Aline, who lived in one of the burned houses, were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. "We lost everything," Gary Durbin lamented, while his mother, Aline Durbin, recounted being rescued by a neighbor. "My neighbor is such a nice person - I don't remember who he was - grabbed me and carried me outside," Aline Durbin told CBS Chicago.

The response from the fire department continued even after the official declaration that the fire was out. Firefighters were seen still dousing the remains of the houses late into the night. As per a Chicago Tribune coverage, Fire Chief Michael Divita confirmed that the displaced families are currently being sheltered and that the structures would be inspected for stability. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined as investigations continue.

In a dogged reminder of the precariousness that often nests within the close-knit wood-frame houses of Chicago, Deputy Chief Kelly Burns pointed out to CBS Chicago, "Wood-frame structures like you see close in Chicago neighborhoods typically are real easy for the fire to jump and spread – especially on a windy night like today." This serves as both a testament to the fragility of such homes and to the unflinching resolve of Chicago's fire crews, who face these flames head-on.