Chicago firefighters battle large fire at Lawndale townhouse

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Firefighters are battling a large fire at a townhouse on Chicago's West Side on Saturday afternoon.

Witnesses told ABC7 the fire started in the top floor of an apartment before quickly spreading, forcing families outside in the cold as they watched the fire burn for hours.

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

The fire broke out in the Lawndale neighborhood's 3100-block of West Lexington Street.

Video from the scene showed firefighters working as flames shot from the roof and billows of smoke clouded the air.

The Chicago Fire Department said its crews were conducting "defensive operations" before the fire was put out around 2 p.m., but ABC7 was on scene about an hour later when flames reignited.

Luckily, that happened after residents were allowed back inside to retrieve whatever they could.

At least three households are now displaced ABC7 saw a family loading up a U-Haul truck as their home continued to burn.

It seemed police were also on scene for hours investigating, but the cause of the fire remains unclear.

Thankfully, CFD says no one was hurt.

CTA warming buses were on the site to assist displaced residents. The Red Cross was also assisting those who were displaced.

Further information was not immediately available.