Residents escape overnight fire in west suburban Chicago; 25 people displaced
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Heavy flames and smoke poured from an apartment building in Cicero Friday morning.
Firefighters responded to the large fire at a three-story building on 16th Street and 59th Court around 1:30 a.m.
According to the Cicero fire chief, the fire started in the basement.
Residents woke up to smoke and evacuated the building. One resident said it was so dark that they could not see where they were headed as they tried to escape.
"Once I heard people outside running, I'm like the building on fire," resident Trainette Lark said. "So I had to get my mother is 65 years old, and I got my two nephews that stay with me. One asthmatic, and my mother is asthmatic, and it was just real terrifying. I didn't know if I was going to be able to get her out. She's on a walker."
The fire proved persistent throughout Friday. Cicero Fire Chief Jeff Penzkofer said there were still hot spots that rekindled "here and there."
Penzkofer said fire crews had to get out of the building for safety and fight the fire from the outside.
"Zero visibility and what happened is, the truck company, they lost contact with each other," he said.
Officials said 25 people have been displaced from the 18-unit building. Red Cross volunteers were working with the displaced residents to find alternative housing. A spokesperson said all of the displaced residents found a place to stay.
No injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
