A pre-dawn blaze tore through a multiunit building in West Englewood on Christmas Day, sending thick smoke over the neighborhood as firefighters swarmed South Marshfield Avenue. Neighbors, jolted awake in the early hours, recorded cellphone video that showed heavy flames shooting from an upstairs window while crews worked to knock the fire down.
According to CBS Chicago, fire crews were on scene at about 1 a.m. Video from the scene showed firefighters directing hose streams into an upper-story window to tame the flames. The Chicago Fire Department did not immediately release details on what started the fire or whether any residents were hurt, the outlet reported.
How This Matches Recent South Side Blazes
The Marshfield Avenue fire arrives on the heels of a string of sizable South Side blazes in recent weeks, including a Thanksgiving inferno that gutted Renewal Life Church in Englewood, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. That earlier church fire also drew a multi-company response and left investigators combing through the damage to determine the cause.
Neighbors' Footage And The Street Scene
Video circulating from the Marshfield scene captured intense flames in an upstairs unit while firefighters worked from ladders and hose lines, according to CBS Chicago. Streets in the immediate area were likely blocked off as crews operated, and residents near South Marshfield reported the early-morning emergency to neighbors and first responders as the fire lit up the dark holiday sky.
What To Watch For Next
Officials have not released additional details, and the cause remains under investigation. Neighbors are being asked to steer clear of the area while firefighters and investigators finish their work. Updates typically come through the Chicago Fire Department's public channels, and reporters and residents will be watching for word on the fire's origin and any shelter needs for displaced tenants.
