An apartment building on the Northwest Side of Chicago was engulfed in flames, leading to the displacement of several residents. The fire, which occurred in the 5100 block of North Kimball Avenue, started around 4 p.m. on Thursday, as reported by WGN-TV. It took nearly three hours for firefighters to extinguish the blaze, which escalated to a so-called 2-11 alarm fire, requiring the presence of close to 100 firefighters.
Amidst concerns about the intense heat possibly hampering efforts, the fire crew nevertheless were able to effectively tackle the fire. A local resident, identified only as Tony, told WGN-TV, "I truly believe the firefighters are doing a great job....they are risking their lives every day [to help] others." Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in the fire. Most residents managed to self-evacuate and are accounted for, according to First District CFD Fire Chief Jim McDonough.
The building where the fire originated sustained significant damage and will have to be demolished, officials have said. Support has since poured in for the victims. The Red Cross and Salvation Army are now assisting the five families that were affected by the fire. These residents are faced with the immediate task to search for new housing, with five of the units occupied at the time of the fire, as FOX 32 Chicago reported.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under active investigation. Among those impacted was a woman named Norma, who initially couldn't locate her aunt, a resident in the burned building. Norma later confirmed to WGN-TV, "When she was arriving she saw the smoke, and we don’t know where she is." Her aunt, who lived on the second floor, did eventually get in contact with family members and reported she was safe but had lost her home in the fire.
