Overnight Fire 'Ravages' Local Business On Greenleaf In Evanston

EVANSTON, IL — A three-alarm fire tore through a mixed-use building overnight in Evanston, with 11 area fire departments working to bring the fire under control.

The blaze broke out around 8:30 p.m. in the one-story structure at the southwest corner of Greenleaf Street and Wesley Avenue, where fire crews arrived to find smoke billowing from the roof, Evanston fire officials said.

"Despite a well-coordinated, aggressive interior attack, fire operations quickly turned defensive as fire ravaged the structure, and conditions began to deteriorate rapidly," according to Division Chief Kimberly Kull.

Firefighters used seven fire lines and three master streams of water to keep the fire contained and stop it from spreading to nearby buildings. The blaze was largely under control by 1 a.m.

There were no injuries among firefighters or residents, and no one was inside the building at the time of the fire.

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Joanna Kramer, owner of Ware Ceramics Studio, said all four small businesses in the building were devastated by the fire. In a social media post, she thanked everyone who had contacted her offering assistance.

"No one was injured, just stuff," Kramer said. "Lots of stuff. Firefighters saved some of my ceramic mugs! Grateful. I’m hoping to see if anything is salvageable."

Neighbors expressed sadness over the damage to the business, telling television crews the ceramics and fitness studio in the building had been anchors in the 4th Ward neighborhood and the sites of fond family memories.

Continued street closures were reported Monday morning on parts of Greenleaf Street and Ashland, Wesley and Asbury avenues.