The blaze started in a house at 5717 North Ridge Avenue near the intersection of Ridge and Wayne.
A Chicago police officer at the scene said the entire structure was engulfed in flames.
At 10:41 p.m., more officers were called to the scene to control the crowd gathering in the alley behind the burning home.
One minute later, at 10:42 p.m., it was announced over the police radio that a second house at 5719 North Ridge, was also on fire. The flames from the first home had spread to the second house.
Fire officials verified the home at 5717 North Ridge was empty and there was no one trapped inside. However, they weren’t sure about the house at 5719 North Ridge.
As of 11 p.m., no fire related injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Traffic on Clark and Ridge was temporarily restricted.
UPDATE: A fireman was injured battling the blaze in Edgewater. He was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois. The firefighter suffered minor injuries.
Public servants, such as the firefighters AND the police have the hardest jobs out there and should be paid a whole lot more than they do. I'm glad there were no injuries.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Towanda! I think we have to stop this nonsense of attacking our public servants (and other working class and middle class folks) in the name of saving money and look to the really rich folks who prospered in the downturn. I'm sure they would have a few bundles of cash to spare.
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