The fire was so intense firefighters from six neighboring towns assisted the Evanston Fire Department.
Residents scrambled to get out of the burning building.
"I heard some crackling and I started smelling smoke, and I just got the kids, got them out and just called the fire department. Didn't know it would turn into this. So thank God everybody's okay," said one resident.
Three homes in the 12-unit building were destroyed.
