An extra-alarm fire heavily damaged one home and spread to two others in west suburban Berwyn this morning. Firefighters rescued some residents from a rooftop.
The fire in the two-story brick-and-wood house in the 3600 block of Wesley Avenue started between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., according to neighbors. There were no injuries.
Four people were on one of the rooftops when firefighters arrived and had to be brought down by ladder, officials said.
In all 17 people were displaced from two of the homes, fire officials said.
The fire began as a box alarm and was eventually raised to a 2-11 when flames leapt to neighboring homes.
Firefighters appeared to have the fire under control, but then it rekindled, one neighbor said.
The fire started in a residence that was converted into a rooming house, said one neighbor.
By 8 a.m., fire crews had extinguished flames at all three structures and were cleaning up the scene, according to witnesses.
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago dispatched a team to the scene to offer assistance, according to its website.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
