Update: The Uptown Crime Blotter has some photos of the fire scene. News coverage at ABC7, Sun-Times, and Tribune here. Thanks to reader and resident "stagemonkey" for the photos and comments, and to our "reader/reporter" who sent in updates while the fire was burning.
A reader has sent us reports of a residence fire at 4505 N Malden early this morning (address corrected). We hope everyone in the building was able to get out safely, and our sympathies are with our neighbors at this time.
We'll update this story as we receive information. Please let us know if you have details or photos that we can add. (The picture above is from Google Maps, just to give readers an idea where the fire occurred.)
"1:10 a.m.: The building across the road has two fire trucks, black smoke coming out of the third story windows and a mess of firefighters trying to stop it. Visible flames were out of a third-story window at one point. The number of people on the street doesn't seem to match the number of people who should be living in the building."
"1:16 a.m.: Firefighters are in at least three apartments on the third and fourth floors of the building and they are breaking out windows. This is a major fire."
"1:24 a.m.: I think the building's number is 4501 N Malden. The fire seems to have originated from an apartment on the fourth floor (black smoke and flames). There are also firefighters on the roof."
"1:40 a.m.: From what I can see from my window, the fire seems to be under control. I haven't seen flames coming from 4501 N Malden in a while, but there are still firefighters on the third and fourth floors (evident by their flashlights) and firefighters visible on the roof. Eight or so firefighters are loitering on the street outside of the building. From my view, the number of evident residents in the building (on the street) still seems small compared to the building's size."
"1:50 a.m.: The building looks like it's under control now. More firefighters are milling on the street, and the firefighters visible in the building windows are no longer wearing their jackets. Note that firefighters are still visible through windows on the second, third, and fourth floors. Black smoke is no longer coming from the building windows. There is visible smoke damage to the exterior of the building."
I'm a resident of the building but on the backside. I was just allowed to get back in. From what I heard from the fire chief on the scene was that 6 units were damaged causing the tenants to be displaced. I have a couple pictures on my phone I can send if you let me know where to send them.
ReplyDeleteI also want to note that the Fire Department did a great job with response time and with getting it under control. From when I first saw smoke outside my window till when the fire was out was a very minimal amount of time.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all those firefighters on the scene (at least 8 trucks worth from what i saw)
Hey let me do one more update. WGN just had a blip about the fire on the news.
ReplyDeleteNo Serious injuries. One Firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion I believe they said.
About 1/2 dozen people displaced.
Started on the 3rd floor and quickly spread onto the 4th floor.
The exact cause of the fire is still unknown at this point.
And a final note from me is I can still hear the board up people working to cover up the busted out windows from the firefighters.
Good job that they had it out so fast,
ReplyDelete