Extra-Alarm Fire Sweeps Through Church Building In Albany Park
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An extra-alarm fire broke out Wednesday afternoon and destroyed the inside of an old church in Albany Park.
The fire broke out at the church at 4500 N. Spaulding Ave., at Sunnyside Avenue. The Fire Department responded around 1:20 p.m. for the fire on the first floor.
The CFD went on to raise a 2-11 alarm for additional manpower and equipment.
By just before 4 p.m., there were only a couple of Chicago Police and Fire Department vehicles at the scene. But earlier in the afternoon, the area was packed with fire trucks.
One fire chief told CBS 2's Jackie Kostek at the scene that as many as 30 units responded to the fire.
The fire was brought under control fairly quickly, and no injuries were reported.
But following the fire, the first-floor windows were completely blown out – and the stained glass upstairs was left a patchwork of shattered glass and metal.
The CFD said the church building has been vacant for quite a while.
CBS 2's Kostek spoke to someone at Preservation Chicago. He said the church building was built in 1915 and is considered a building of significance by the City of Chicago.
But a Redfin listing from December indicated that the church property was up for sale for redevelopment and was under contract with an offer. The property was for sale as "vacant land," meaning the church building would be torn down.
The Chicago Department of Buildings said the owner of the church applied for a demolition permit in both June 2019 and February 2021 – but did not actually follow through to obtain the permit.
The owner filed for a demolition permit again in October 2021, and the Department of Buildings conducted a pre-demolition inspection at the church building on Nov. 21, 2021.
The owner listed on all three permit applications was the Chicago Milal Church, the department said.
This was the third major fire in Albany Park in as many days. Early on Monday morning, a fire swept through a three-story apartment building at 4335-39 N. Richmond St., and then spreading to the neighboring building at 2915-2925 W. Montrose Ave. – which housed Twisted Hippo Taproom and Eatery, and Ultimate Ninjas gym.
On Tuesday, a firefighter was injured while battling a vacant apartment building in the 3300 block of West Cullom Avenue.
The Fire Department late Wednesday said they do not have any information to connect the three Albany Park fires this week.
