Two separate fires in Logan Square over the weekend have displaced 29 residents, including 12 children, according to police and local witnesses.
The first incident occurred at around 8:55 p.m. Saturday in an apartment building on the 2000 block of North Hamlin Avenue. The fire spread to a neighboring structure, resulting in the displacement of 22 people—12 adults and 10 children. Two individuals were treated for minor injuries by paramedics at the scene. Authorities called in the American Red Cross to assist those affected, and a warming station is planned for installation at the site.
Fire Department officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze. A worker present on Sunday suggested that it began in a kitchen on the second floor of the building. On Sunday afternoon, cleanup crews were seen boarding up damaged sections; significant destruction was visible, including a missing back staircase and heavy damage to much of the second floor.
Neighbor Levi Todd has started a GoFundMe campaign for one family who lost all their possessions in the fire. As of Sunday night, more than $2,700 had been raised toward a $5,000 goal. Todd indicated plans to expand fundraising efforts as he connects with other families impacted by the fire.
Less than a day after this incident, another residential fire broke out about a block away on Sunday at around 12:15 p.m., this time in an apartment building on the 1900 block of North Ridgeway Avenue. According to resident Georgio Bermudez, “We went to church around 11:30 when this happened,” Bermudez said. “After I was done getting baptized, I go [to] the bathroom, and my phone is getting blown up with my brother, and he tells me that the house is on fire, so I had to hurry, get dressed. I had no socks. I got partially dressed in the car and rushed here. First thing I did was look for my grandfather and parents.”
Bermudez explained that his father was hospitalized due to smoke inhalation but that other family members escaped without serious injury. He described extensive damage primarily confined to the basement and first floor; upper levels remained mostly unaffected.
“We grew up in that whole building, and just to see it go down is kind of f—ed up,” Bermudez added. “My mother and father, they were in the basement. They were on the bed that was on fire. But thank God nothing happened to them.”
A firefighter confirmed there was no connection between this blaze and Saturday’s nearby incident.
Bermudez noted his grandfather has owned their home for three decades and said rebuilding will now be their main focus.
