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Apartment gutted by fire in Elmwood Park
Elmwood Park firefighters were called to this apartment on 74th Avenue shortly after 2:30. Several departments assisted Elmwood Park firefighters. The other crews came from Franklin Park, River Grove and Norwood Park. | David Pollard~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 15, 2013 12:05PM
ELMWOOD PARK — No people were injured, but one cat perished, in a fire Friday afternoon that destroyed an apartment.
The fire occurred at the south end of the second floor of an apartment building on the 2800 block of 74th Avenue. Elmwood Park Fire Chief Michael J. Ventura said the department received the fire call at 2:37 p.m.
He said when they arrived they saw heavy smoke coming from the apartment. One man lived in the apartment, Ventura said, but he was outside the building and unharmed when they arrived. Charred wood and furniture could be seen through the apartment’s picture window, whch had been entirely broken out.
Ventura said firefighters believe smoking was the cause. The man said he was smoking and had fallen asleep on the couch, which caught fire, Ventura said.
He said the fire did not travel to any other apartment in the building, but as of Friday afternoon, he said it was still too dangerous to any of the other building occupants to return to their apartments. Power also had to be shut off to the building.
Fire departments from Franklin Park, River Grove and Norwood Park also assisted.~.
