Jun 12, 2009 11:43 am US/Central
3 Homes Devastated By Extra-Alarm Berwyn Fire
BERWYN, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
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Nine people were left homeless at a fire in at least two houses in Berwyn early Friday.
CBS
A home being rehabbed was leveled and two other houses "heavily damaged" after an extra-alarm fire in west suburban Berwyn early Friday.
Authorities were notified of about 12:30 a.m. of a fire in a vacant 2-story frame residence being rehabbed at 1327 Elmwood Ave, and police officers were first on the scene, according to Berwyn Fire Deputy Chief Paul Gardner.
"When they pulled up the house [1327] was going from bottom to top, front to back along with the house to the north and to the south,'' he said.
The house to the south at 1329 Elmwood was a 1-1/2 story bungalow and 1325 was a 2-story home to the north, the deputy chief said.
When fire crews got to the scene it was raised to a second-alarm as the blaze had also spread to the garages behind the homes.
No one was inside 1327 and police officers got ten people -- including two families, some with children -- out of 1329 and 1325 to safety, Gardner said.
No one was hurt and the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago assisted the families with shelter. No other homes or businesses had to be evacuated and Gardner did not know whether the occupied homes had smoke detectors.
A statement from the Red Cross said the multi-home fire displaced nine people from two families, who were provided emergency assistance, including shelter, clothing and food.
Gardner said the fire was controlled about 3 a.m. -- leaving 1327 "down to the ground'' and "gone" and the other homes "heavily damaged.''
Though both the origin and cause were unknown as of 10:30 a.m., investigators believe it started at 1327.
A damage estimate has not been developed, according to Gardner, who said the blaze is under investigation by the fire department.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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