Rebuilding Begins For Victims Of Chicago Ridge Apartment Fire: UPDATED

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — Chicago Ridge residents are rallying around tenants to help them begin the rebuilding process after a fire destroyed their multi-unit apartment building that took four hours to extinguish.

The Lions Club of Chicago Ridge is facilitating donations for the fire victims. What is most needed now are gift cards for grocery stores, gas, drug stores/pharmacies and restaurants. Drop them off at the Chicago Ridge EMA building through Wednesday, Jan. 29, or at village hall, 10455 S Ridgeland Ave. No clothing or household items are needed at this time.

The extra-alarm blaze was called in a few minutes after 5 p.m. Saturday in the 10500 block of Brooks Lane adjacent to I-294. Videos on social media showed flames coming out of the top floor of the 24-unit building. The fire was finally struck around 9 p.m. Firefighters from around the area assisted the Chicago Ridge Fire Department in fighting the blaze.

No injuries were reported. Chicago Ridge Fire Chief Rob Smart told Patch the cause of the fire was under investigation. At least 20 people have been accounted for, including four children and the rest adults.

Firefighters were forced to take defensive action by attacking the fire from the outside to keep it from spreading to other buildings in the complex. The building was a total loss.

The displaced tenants spent the night in the village’s emergency management agency building that serves as a training center for the Chicago Ridge police and fire departments at 10655 S. Oak Ave.

One resident told NBC 5 Chicago that she thought the fire started near the unit she had recently moved into on the first floor.

“I don’t even have my shoes,” Sandra Pfingsten said. “I was lucky I grabbed my purse because it was right next to the door with my laptop.”

Rosa’s Pizza sent food over Saturday evening to those taking refuge in the EMA building. The Lions Club of Chicago Ridge had pizza sent over to the firefighters.

A resident of the apartment building posted in the Chicago Ridge Neighborhood Watch Facebook page that she had just left her apartment for a half hour, and when she returned her building was completely consumed by flames.

“My cats died in the fire,” she said.

Throughout Sunday, residents dropped off clothing, toiletries and household items at the EMA building. The Chicago Ridge Lions Club and other Lions Club chapters, along BSA Troop 665 and Cub Scout Pack 3665 have been sorting and distributing items to fire victims.

“Today was an amazing day as so many donations poured in to the EMA center,” Chicago Ridge Trustee Ed Kowalski said in a statement. “It is amazing that things such as a shower, preparing a meal, curling up with a book or a video to relax for some is an easy task but for others is a near impossible feat. Because of you and your generosity, those affected are well on the road to recovery. There is still a long way to go. The items most in need right now are gift cards for gasoline, groceries, and basic needs.”

Kowalski told Patch that the Chicago Ridge EMA Center, 10655 S. Oak Ave. would be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Wednesday, Jan. 29. The Lions Club is no longer accepting clothing and household items. The most needed items at this time are gift cards for gas, grocery stores, restaurants and medical prescriptions (Walgreens, CVS).

“We had [fire victims] leaving with bags of stuff,” Kowalski said. “Psychologically, it gives them a sense of control over what they've they lost.”

Gift cards will be accepted at Chicago Ridge EMA Center, 10655 S. Oak Ave., through Wednesday, Jan. 29. After that, drop off gift cards at Chicago Ridge Village Hall,

~ This story has been updated with new information.