2-alarm fire on Chicago’s West Side burns down 1 home, damages 2 others
CHICAGO — A massive fire Wednesday night on the city’s West Side burned down one home and damaged two others.
Chicago firefighters battled the large blaze after crews were called to a home in the 1300 block of West 16th Street, in Pilsen, around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. The district fire chief said close to 100 firefighters were on the scene at some point.
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Officials with the Chicago Fire Department said the home where the fire started was being renovated, and no one was present when the blaze began. That home collapsed, leaving behind only charred remains, and sent flames to neighboring properties.
Fire officials said residents in the neighboring buildings were safely evacuated and that one of those buildings suffered significant damage. However, officials said no injuries were reported.
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Some area residents who witnessed the flames said they could be seen from blocks away.
“I could see the flames completely engulf the building,” witness Isabella Biella-Reyes said. “By the time my dad called me, the entire house was up in flames. I immediately put my shoes on, ran downstairs and ran over here.
“By the time I ran over here — less than two minutes, not even — I couldn’t see my house because of all the smoke that was already just pummeling out of the house.”
Witnesses believe strong winds Wednesday night led the fire to the neighboring properties, forcing evacuations.
“It started on the left side of the house, and it kind of just spread, then the whole house collapsed,” a witness said. “The back house (behind it) started on fire, then the house next door.”
Fire crews said the Red Cross was on location to help residents displaced by the fire find temporary housing.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, leaving some wondering what could’ve started it when nobody was at the property.
“I’ve very curious to know how this fire started at 8:30 at night, when they were just doing work on it (Wednesday),” Biella-Reyes said. “I’m thankful to God that no one got hurt.”
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