Large Albany Park fire prompts massive response, leaves several displaced; CFD investigating

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago firefighters have extinguished a large building fire that prompted a massive response and shut down several surrounding Northwest Side streets on Tuesday afternoon.

But while the flames are out, 19 people will not be able to return to their homes on Tuesday night. They have not only lost their homes, but also immigration documents, passports and work permits, all things that have given them a sense of safety what, they say, has been terrifying times.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Chopper 7 was over the three-story building in the Albany Park neighborhood's 5000-block North Troy Street as the fire engulfed it.

The Chicago Fire Department said they first got the call just before 4:30 p.m.

When firefighters first arrived, they said the fire was concentrated in the rear of the building.

At one point, the flames consumed all floors in the back of the building.

CFD said at least 100 firefighters were called to respond. Several emergency vehicles blocked roads as firefighters, including some on the roof of the burning building, worked to put out the flames.

CFD said firefighters had to shift into in defensive mode, meaning they had to attack the flames from outside.

The greatest challenge was the proximity of the buildings. The flames eventually spread north to one other building, damaging both impacted buildings' garages, fire officials said.

The fire tore apart homes and right through families' sense of security.

"All of the hard work that my uncles have put into everything... it's gone," said Alberto Sanchez, whose relatives lost their home in the fire. "The whole back of our building was basically on fire... I saw a lot of smoke and people rushing out of the building."

Neighbors ran out to try and help impacted families, who watched their homes burn in fear, not over losing their homes, but what was inside.

"Everybody lost all of their documentation, passports, birth certificates, work permits," said 33rd Ward Ald. Rossana Rodriguez. "People are deeply traumatized right now. This comes at a moment when a lot of these same families are dealing with a lot of fear."

Many of the families impacted told ABC7 that the greater trauma is in what comes next, in the midst of immigration enforcement activity in Chicago.

Lourdes Sanchez, whose family lived on the top floor of the building, spoke to ABC7 in Spanish.

"I am very sad," Lourdes said. "But I am OK, because my family is with me."

"I am worried about my documents and my kids' documents," she continues to say.

Lourdes is now terrified over her family losing their place of refuge but also the paperwork they need to keep her family together.

Rodriguez says on top of offering these families support like mental health services, her team also reaching out to different consulates to see how they get the right paperwork back in the hands of these families.

CFD is investigating the cause of the fire.

Further information was not immediately available.