Evanston House Fire Leaves 6 Residents Displaced

EVANSTON, IL — Six people were displaced by a fire Tuesday in a two-story home in Evanston.

Fire crews were called to the 2000 block of Emerson Street shortly before 5 p.m. for a report of heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor of the house, fire officials said.

Evanston firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within 30 minutes, keeping the fire in the unit of origin, according to a statement from the department.

Crews escorted one resident from the first floor of the burning building, while other residents were able to evacuate.

Fire officials said two residents needed medical care, with one taken to a local hospital to be evaluated by doctors. No firefighters were injured in the incident.

Extensive damage from smoke and water forced the displacement of everyone in the building, officials said.

The American Red Cross arrived to offer emergency services and housing assistance for six displaced residents.

One of the displaced residents was Kemone Hendricks, the founder of the nonprofit Evanston Present and Future and the organizer of Evanston's Juneteenth parade.

"I’m pushing through. The building I live in caught on fire. Thank god me and my son were not at home when it happened," Hendricks said in a message on a GoFundMe online fundraiser. "We are displaced right now in a hotel until further assistance from various organizations."