West Side fire damages at least 3 homes, families displaced: 'just devastated'
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A large fire tore through at least three homes on Chicago's West Side Monday morning.
The fire happened in the 4700-block of West Fulton Street in West Garfield Park near the CTA's Cicero Station.
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Chopper 7 caught the moment one of the houses appeared to collapse at about 9:30 a.m.
Witnesses said residents were able to quickly get out. Some neighbors knocked on each other's doors to evacuate.
"I jumped up. I opened the door, and it was a big cloud of smoke, fire coming through the window. I'm like, 'wow, we got to get out of here,'" resident Antonio Harris said.
The Chicago Fire Department said there were no injuries.
Several families were displaced.
One family escaped but took nothing.
Luis Toaquiza said it was so quick they couldn't find any documents or money.
Toaquiza started a GoFundMe in an effort to to get his family back on their feet.
Nearly 100 fire personnel worked the fire.
"Those houses are approximately 4-5 feet apart. And when fire gets a really good start, that can contribute to extending to those buildings," Chicago Fire District Chief Jamar Sullivan said.
Two of the homes have been longtime family homes. A gray house where the Harris family lives has been in the Coats family since 1966.
"It unbelievable, unbelievable, so many memories," Vivian Killebrew said.
A brick house was bought by Delores Mister's parents in 1968.
"We've been here so long; I don't have any words, just devastated," Delores Mister said.
Demolition crews began taking down the structures later Monday.
Residents are grateful everyone was able to get out unharmed.
