CHICAGO — A massive fire tore through a three-story apartment building in Chicago’s North Park neighborhood Thursday evening, displacing five families and triggering a major emergency response from the Chicago Fire Department.
The fire started around 4:57 p.m. at a brick apartment complex located at 5134 N. Kimball Ave., just south of Foster Avenue and near both the Albany Park Branch of the Chicago Public Library and Frederick Von Steuben High School.
Firefighters arrived to find the enclosed rear wooden porches engulfed in flames, launching a coordinated attack from the alley. The intense fire led to a 2-11 alarm, meaning at least 32 fire companies and nearly 100 firefighters responded to the scene, according to CFD 1st District Chief Jim McDonough.
“I was trying to burn the roof off to get at that fire. It makes no sense to throw water on top of a fire you can’t get to,” McDonough said.
Fast Fire Spread, Wooden Interiors Blamed
Although the building had a brick exterior, the interior structure was built entirely of wood — including walls, rafters, and floors — which allowed the flames to rapidly spread from the first floor to the roof.
“This is almost three hours now, and it’s not stopping,” said resident Souradje Djinadou, describing the seemingly unending nature of the fire.
Details about the fire’s origin and extensive response effort were reported by CBS News Chicago, which covered the incident from the scene.
Five Families Displaced, No Injuries Reported
The building housed eight large units, five of which were occupied. Thankfully, all residents made it out safely. Some were seen standing on the sidewalk barefoot and without any belongings, in shock as they watched their homes burn.
Neighbor Ngozi Chukwjine, who owns the adjacent property, said she acted quickly when she noticed the smoke.
“Thank God I was here and I saw the fire, so I called out my tenants — because they didn’t know,” Chukwjine said.
Community Steps In As Cause Remains Under Investigation
Fire officials said the fire may have started near a kitchen area in the back, where the wooden porches caught flame almost instantly. The exact cause is still under investigation as of Thursday night.
The Salvation Army was on scene quickly, providing aid to those affected. Meanwhile, local residents and neighbors shared prayers and support.
“I’m praying for everyone who lost their things inside,” said neighbor Henry Vasquez. “I saw a bunch of people crying out here.”
Heat and Response Strain Resources
The high temperatures in Chicago on Thursday compounded the challenge for firefighters, who rotated teams to prevent heat exhaustion.
“We’re going to start rehab right away, replace fire companies, rotate them,” McDonough explained.
CTA & School Proximity Raises Alarm
The fire broke out just steps from two major community locations — a children’s learning center and a public high school — highlighting the potential risk if the blaze had spread further or occurred during school hours.
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