Oak Park Family Displaced After Home Goes Up in Flames Wednesday

An Oak Park family was forced out of their suburban home early Wednesday morning when it went up in flames around 1:30 a.m.

The Oak Park Fire Department was called to the home on the 700 block of South Humphrey Avenue immediately, NBC 5 reported, and found flames engulfing the second-floor attic.

It’s still unclear what caused the fire.

The three family members who were inside at the time were able to get out safely, according to NBC, but smoke and water damage from the fire has forced them out of their home. They’re staying with neighbors for the time being.

Firefighters were able to save several things from the flames when they went in to extinguish the fire, including some of the wrapped gifts underneath the family's Christmas tree. They stacked them on the front porch.

Officials on the scene told NBC reporters the risk of starting a fire gets higher as the temperature gets lower, due to the use of space heaters and furnace complications.

“The big thing is furnace maintenance,” Dave Wenzel, the Oak Park Fire Department’s battalion chief, said. “Having that furnace maintained every year (and) having it checked by a professional.”

Officials are in the process of investigating the cause of the fire.

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