Fire destroys home in West Chatham; no injuries after firefighter mayday call
A South Side home was destroyed after a fire Friday night in the West Chatham neighborhood. The flames and smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters called for all hands on deck.
The fire started around 5 p.m. at a home near 82nd and Lafeyette, sending heavy smoke over the neighborhood and the nearby Dan Ryan Expressway.
Deputy District Chief Anthony Frazier Sr. said, when the first firefighters arrived at the scene, everyone who was in the home already had gotten out safely.
The fire destroyed the home where Yvonne Jones and her husband raised their family. Her husband died two years ago.
"When I was standing outside looking at the flames, I'm like, 'Now I've lost the home, I've lost my husband, I've lost everything,' and I just broke down," she said.
Jones reflected on hearing a strange noise moments before smoke filled the house.
"I was in the bathroom, and I heard a loud pop," she said. "I looked to the back, and I saw the smoke coming out of my bedroom, so I ran back there, and it was filled with smoke," she said.
Jones and her two grandchildren, ages 7 and 10, rushed outside with their dog.
"I'm Just grateful for our lives, because we could've been sleep when it happened," she said.
As Jones and her neighbors looked on in disbelief, realizing so many memories are gone, the fire has not wavered her faith.
"I trust God. I believe God. I know he'll make a way for us," she said.
As firefighters were battling the flames inside, a mayday call went out after a firefighter was briefly separated from their colleagues. Everyone was pulled out of the building and, a short time later, all firefighters were accounted for as they continued battling the flames from a defensive position.
Heavy flames could be seen pouring from a rear window and from holes firefighters had opened in the roof for ventilation before a tower ladder truck was brought in to help extinguish the fire from above.
The fire was extinguished by about 6:15 p.m., and Frazier said no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire was under investigation Friday night.