Fire Destroys Oak Park Apartment Building Tuesday Night

Photo via the Village of Oak Park.

All residents of the 22-unit Oak Park apartment building that caught fire Tuesday night were evacuated safely.

The fire was reported at about 9:30 p.m. at the southeast corner of Washington Boulevard and Cuyler Avenue, about a block east of Ridgeland Avenue, according to the Village of Oak Park.

Flames spread through the whole building in a four-alarm fire that burned for several hours and sent one Oak Park firefighter to Loyola Medical Center for heat exhaustion. He was later released. Parts of the building’s roof collapsed, and nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

The fire was extinguished at about 3:40 a.m. Fire crews were still dousing hot spots as of Wednesday morning, according to the village.

Streets still closed Wednesday morning include Washington Boulevard between Lombard and Ridgeland avenues; Cuyler Avenue between Randolph and Madison streets; and Harvey Avenue between Randolph and Madison streets.

The fire seemed to have sparked in the back of the building, near enclosed wooden porches, but investigators are still trying to find the cause. Officials believe the building will probably be a total loss.

A two-flat building on Washington Boulevard had minor radiant heat damage from the fire. Electricity was cut to several buildings during the blaze, but ComEd crews were available to restore power when safe.

Firefighters from 11 area departments helped Oak Park firefighters, including Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview, Chicago, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, North Riverside, River Forest, Stickney and Westchester.

Two Pace busses offered temporary shelter, and The Red Cross offered emergency shelter assistance. The Salvation Army provided a canteen for fire personnel.

Percy Julian Middle School nearby was not affected.