Chicago Fire Department-2-11 Fire on Springfield

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Arson investigators and a specially-trained police dog scoured the remains of several homes on South Springfield Avenue this morning, where an early morning fire destroyed four homes and caused significant damage to two others.

Twenty-nine people were displaced by the fire, 19 of them receiving help from the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, Red Cross officials said. Red Cross officials said they are helping the displaced residents with food, clothing and shelter.

The Chicago Police Department's Bomb and Arson Section is investigating, officials said.

No one was seriously hurt in the fire, though a pregnant woman and her young son were treated for smoke inhalation, officials said.

Chicago Fire Department officials said the blaze began about 4:15 a.m. at one of the homes in a row of 2.5-story and 3-story multifamily brick homes in the 3000 block of South Springfield Avenue.

The fire call came in from 3019 S. Springfield, but fire and police officials would not say which house the fire began in, citing the ongoing investigation. The fire took about 1 hour and 40 minutes to put out, fire officials said.

Jorge Gutierrez, 18, who lived in one of the homes with eight relatives, said working fire alarms likely helped save his neighbors. Gutierrez said his father woke up to a booming sound, and he saw fire on the home's exterior wall. Smoke alarms began going off, Gutierrez said.

"I called 911 right away, and they [police and fire officials] got here very quickly," Gutierrez said. He said his extended family is moving into the homes of other relatives.

Neighbors said they suspected the fire might be arson and feared gang involvement. Authorities have alleged gang involvement in recent crimes in the South Lawndale neighborhood, including the non-fatal shooting of a teen nearly three weeks ago.

Andreas Terrazas, 30, lives next door to 3015 S. Springfield. He said that he saw the building on fire when he was awakened at 4 a.m. by people screaming in the street.

"The fire was inside when I came out," he said while standing across the street as firefighters aimed water hoses at his building. "I walked past [flames] on the porch."

Christopher Latham contributed to this report

--Emily S. Achenbaum, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/04/fire-evacuates-south-lawndale-buil...

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[Jorge6996514]

The middle house is where I lived it was a total loss me and my family lost everything. But we are all lucky to be here today, i feel lucky to be typing this right now although this computer is not mine cause i lost everything since I am computer tech everything got toasted. But o well I'm still here. We thank everyone that has given donations to my family and I. But thank god we are all still here! Thanks Everyone!

[MIKCURIE]

extremly good description...well done

[DASH3013]

we lost everything nothing good was left. i was one of the kids helped from the red cross benefits and i give thanks for that. and to the people that helped us. we moved in to some friends house we thank him for all his help. but i give thanks to god. no one was injured seriously. watching this makes me cry because you see from one moment to a nother you loose everything and family is the only thing you will have at last.

[DASH3013]

i used to live in the last house in the right the description is some kind true

the fire started in the second right house it was gang affiliated and the lady was traped in the 4th floor but my cuzin and some other neightboors helped her get down from the front window from all the way of the 4th floor.

[RTD8481]

Im assigned to one of the truck companies that responded to this fire. I just happened to be off that day, if anything , no lives were lost!  Thank god!

[EMTDON158]

Very windy I see, never good for afire fighter, I been a volunteer fire fighter 10 years.

[Gigi23Alex]

My Moms house burned down ...

[trizzybone1]

wat kind of signal was it. 4 alarm? or +

[mrestarks]

i was there i worked that fire

[amrcanhotrod]

Thank god for these guys. Cant say enough about the chicago fire dept