Crime & Safety

UPDATED: 5-Story Morgan Park Condo Building Gutted By Fire

Firefighters put out a fire that left three floors collapsed Saturday afternoon and dozens homeless.

No injuries have been reported in a fire that left the interior of a 32-unit Morgan Park condo building partially collapsed. 

The fire broke out around 2:20 p.m. at 2030 W. 111th Street, according to Chicago Fire Department officials. 

Chicago Deputy Fire Commissioner John McNicholas said the 3-11 alarm fire has so far caused minor injuries to four people who were treated at the scene but declined to go to the hospital.

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Roddric Sims lives on the third floor of the building and was home with his son Ryan, 7, when the fire broke out. 

"The alarm went off, someone was outside yelling 'Fire!'," Sims said. "I walked out of my son's room and saw black smoke coming out of the vent."

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Sims then picked up his son and ran to the end of the hallway and ran down the stairwell. 

"To get everyone out and not have anyone injured is a blessing," Sims said. "All my stuff is pretty much gone."

Sims has lived in the building for about seven years. Two patio chairs and a small table sit almost undamaged outside the window of his unit, but inside is a much different story. 

The blaze caused the closure of 111th Street between Longwood Drive and Bell Avenue for much of the afternoon and evening.

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At one point, one firefighter was lost in the building and called a "Mayday," said McNicholas. He was quickly located.  

The landlord of the building aided the fire department in regard to residents of the building. A head count is being taken, and no one is listed as missing, he said.   

Heavy smoke was pouring out of the fourth and fifth story windows as flames flared up on the fourth floor. Firefighters concentrated their efforts on the third and fifth floors, pouring a steady stream of water at what seemed to be the heaviest concentration of smoke.

The fifth floor has collapsed into the fourth floor and the fourth has collapsed into the third.

The fire got into the walls, causing portions of the building's interior to collapse, explained McNicholas. Because of the building's unstable structure, firefighters had a difficult time gaining access to all portions the building.

A check of all accessible areas was completed by 6 p.m. 

What emergency responders are dealing with now is just a "shell of a building," McNicholas said.  

Ald. Matt O'Shea was on the scene updating residents who were gathered at the Walker Public Library. He suggests to those looking to make donations, to contact the Chicago chapter of the American Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org/il/chicago

The Red Cross was on the scene providing relief to the building's residents. 

Updated 7:15 p.m. 


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