60 residents, and pets, rescued from major apartment fire in Cicero

Cicero Firefighters rescued 60 residents from a 3-story multi-unit apartment building on the block of 1600 S. 50^th Court this morning (Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018) as fire and heavy smoke consumed the building.

Two of the residents (one male adult and one female adult, unidentified) required hospitalization with minor injuries, and were taken by Cicero ambulance to a nearby hospital. The injured were rescued by firefighters from a 2^nd floor apartment and from a 3^rd floor apartment.

Fire officials said the firefighters also rescued six cats from the building.

The fire started in the 2^nd floor apartment this morning, Sunday at around 6:30 am and then quickly spread through the apartment to the back of the building where it ignited and consumed the back wooden porch and then quickly spread to the third floor, officials said.

The building is identified as the Eureka Apartments in Cicero on 50^th Court, which is described as having 20 units.

Cicero fire damages 3 story apartment building Sunday August 19, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Cicero Fire Department

Fire Chief Dominick Buscemi praised his men for their quick action in evacuating the building, saving many lives.

“This is a terrible fire that could have done far more damage to lives and I am just proud of how fast the firefighters got there to constrain fire,” Buscemi said as firefighters worked at extinguishing remaining flames inside the building.

Buscemi said that Cicero officials were working with families to find temporary shelter until they are able to secure longer term residence.

“This building is uninhabitable at this time,” Buscemi said from the fire scene this morning. “But many of the apartments are undamaged and will be approved for families to return as soon as possible.”

(Photos included courtesy of the Cicero Fire Department)

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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