Fire rips through homeless encampment in Elgin, Illinois
ELGIN, Ill. (CBS) -- A fire destroyed a large homeless encampment in Elgin Wednesday evening, with firefighters acting quickly to get the flames under control.
The fire started around 4:45 p.m. at the tent encampment at North State and Kimball streets.
Firefighters found two to three structures engulfed in flames at the scene, the City of Elgin said. Firefighters acted quickly to get the blaze under control.
No one was injured in the fire, but the blaze left both the people who live there and their pets with nothing.
CBS News Chicago is told that in all, more than 40 people—and several pets—were displaced in the fire. Those people called the encampment their home and their family.
The surrounding community stepped up to help a day later.
"Oh my God, I couldn't believe it," said Mario Barrientos, who works in the encampment. "We're like a community."
Barrientos said the fire happened really fast.
"Minutes," he said, "like minutes, literally minutes."
Others who live in the encampment did not want to show their faces, But some, like Rafael, said via a Spanish interpreter that the few personal or sentimental items they owned were lost to the fire.
With that in mind, the community turned out for a massive showing of support—with monetary, food and clothing donations pouring in…
"We have chicken, and I made a baked pasta," said street outreach worker Jenna Strochmanger.
Bark of an Angel Dog Rescue, based in nearby Lake in the Hills, was one of the many organizations who have been working to help the families and pets displaced by the fire. The organization's founder Cathie Sugel, said it was "a devastating loss to everybody involved."
Bark of an Angel is accepting donations of pet food, bottled water, supplies, and monetary donations for both the pets and people who were affected by the fire.
Lori Wyman, an active volunteer who regularly helps the homeless community in Elgin, said a pop-up lunch was held on Thursday for those affected by the fire, with volunteers providing hot meals and other donations.
"These people are amazing, and they care more about the community than I think people believe," Wyman said. "This is their home. People say oh they live in a tent—no, that's their home. They're not homeless. They're houseless."
Wyman said anyone could find themselves in the same situation.
"Any one of us could become somebody that lives outside—could be houseless," she said, "and we need to treat everyone with dignity and respect."
Donations for Bark of an Angel can be dropped off at Paul's Family Restaurant, at 1300 Lawrence Ave. in Elgin, or directly through Bark of an Angel's website.
People can also contact Bark of an Angel via Facebook, at barkofanangeldogrescue@gmail.com, or by calling/texting 847-238-2722.
PADS of Elgin Inc., the Community Crisis Center, realtor Perlita Sánchez, The Village Squire South Elgin bar and grill, Vern's Tavern, and author and organizer Tissanie Simmons are also collecting donations.
