Frozen hydrants hinder firefighters battling Wrightwood blaze

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two frozen hydrants hindered firefighters' efforts to extinguish a garage fire on Chicago's Southwest Side overnight.

Crews responded to reports of a blaze in the 8200-block of South Fairfield Avenue in the city's Wrightwood neighborhood around 1:50 a.m. Monday.

Chicago Water Department workers were called to the scene to help thaw the frozen hydrants and others nearby after the fire was struck.

The garage was a total loss. The wind caused the fire to spread to a nearby garage, which sustained significant damage.

"I saw the fire trucks. They had the water going. It was pretty windy outside. I was just concerned that it was going to catch my garage, which it did. So a lot of the contents of my garage have been burned up, unfortunately. But we're safe. That's all that matters," said Debbie Gray, who lives next door.