Neighbors Displaced After Fire At Vacant House In Harvey
CHICAGO (STMW) -- Neighbors from two adjacent houses were displaced after a fire that caused heavy damage to a vacant home in south suburban Harvey Tuesday night.
Authorities were called shortly after 10 p.m. to a structure fire at a two-story home in the 15300 block of South Loomis Avenue, according to city spokesman Sean Howard.
The house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, Howard said. The adjacent homes to the north and south were evacuated as heavy smoke spread from the fire, although flames were contained to the house where the fire started.
The fire has since been extinguished, Howard said about 1 a.m. Wednesday.
The home was vacant at the time, although neighbors reported that a squatter had recently made entry to the rear of the home and had apparently been living there illegally, Howard said. The house had been inspected by Harvey's planning department in December.
No residents or firefighters were injured in the fire, according to Howard.
The American Red Cross was on the scene to assist residents from the adjacent homes with finding shelter for the night, Howard said. They will be allowed back into their homes after the extent of the smoke damage is assessed, most likely by about 10 a.m., he said.
Fire crews from East Hazel Crest, South Holland and Oak Forest assisted the Harvey Fire Department in extinguishing the fire, according to Howard.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)