Fire crews battled the flames for more than two hours as some people were forced to evacuate and are now left in the cold.
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There were at least six fire trucks seen at the scene at W. 23rd Street and S. Wentworth Avenue.
Chicago fire officials said the blaze broke out just after 8 p.m. in the rear of "Chang Ying Ginseng Hong," a Chinese herbal medicine shop that's been in this neighborhood for more than 30 years.
A neighbor who lives next door said the store was closed before the fire happened.
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He described feeling the heat through his walls before rushing on his rooftop.
"When I went up, I feel the intensity of the heat. I saw the huge fire spring from the other building onto my building, almost onto the rooftop. So even though there is a wall in between, I feel the intensity of the heat," the neighbor said.
A firefighter was cut while battling the blaze, but is expected to be okay, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.