Fire Engulfs Oak Park Apartment Building

"[It was] like a little kitchen fire. ... By the time I got everybody out, I come back everything was in flames," says resident

More than 65 firefighters from five departments responded to a massive Wednesday fire that started at a vacant home before spreading to an adjacent apartment complex.

Crews were called to the 500 block of North Humphrey Avenue, in Oak Park, at about 4:30 a.m. The blaze was upgraded to a three-alarm fire at about 5:45 a.m.

"We were awoken to the sound of glass breaking and then we could just hear people screaming outside, like 'Everybody evacuate the building. The house right next to us caught on fire!'" said resident Evan Bremer.

Explosive flames were seen covering most of the roof of a three-story, multi-unit apartment complex. Portions of the roof caved in.

Resident Princess Hill said she was surprised at how quickly the fire spread from the nearby home that was being remodeled.

"I saw the fire. [It was] like a little kitchen fire. So I went to the neighbors and [told] everybody to get out of the house. By the time I got everybody out, I come back everything was in flames," she said.

There were no injuries, and representatives from the American Red Cross were on hand assisting the displaced residents.

09/03/14: NBC Chicago’s helicopter was above 541 N. Humphrey Avenue at 5:30 a.m.
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