CFD battles massive Hyde Park fire in apartment building; woman critically injured

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago fire crews are battling a massive fire in an apartment building in the city’s South Side Hyde Park neighborhood Tuesday morning.

Large flames and heavy smoke were visible coming from a four-story apartment building as early as 4:30 a.m. in the 5100-block of South Kenwood Avenue.

Chicago police said a woman was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition from the incident, which began about 3:30 a.m.

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Both those in the building ablaze and those in surrounding buildings were asked to leave their homes early Tuesday.

“Something woke me up, and I heard the fire engines coming, people were knocking on doors, saying ‘fire, fire, gotta get out.’ Someone on the street was screaming, ‘get out of the building, the building’s on fire,'” neighbor Ryan Winters said.

Chicago fire officials said there are about 250 firefighters on the scene.

“I woke up about 4 o’clock to noise in the backyard, and I looked out to see someone chopping down the wooden fence between the properties,” neighbor Joan Allison said.

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There are some street closures in the area, as crews work to put out the stubborn fire, which had intensified by about 6:30 a.m. with flames and heavy smoke coming from the building’s roof.

Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said hoarding conditions made it difficult for firefighters to access the fire early on.

Fire crews are in defensive mode, after the building’s roof caved in, Nance-Holt said during a news conference about 7 a.m.

“We’re pouring tons of water on this fire,” she said. “(Crews have) a lot of work ahead of them.”

At least eight people have been displaced, Nance-Holt said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.