CHICAGO – A fire ripped through a vacant home in Chicago’s Grand Crossing neighborhood Saturday morning and spread to other homes around it.
A man who lived in the home next to where it all started told WGN News he barely escaped with his life.
“A minute later and I would have been in flames,” said Larry Newson, who lost his home in the fire.
It’s a reality that Newson said is now sinking in. His home appears to be a total loss, but he said the fact that he’s alive is enough reason to smile.
“Once I started seeing the flames, I just went into panic because I wasn’t sure if I was going to die, if my pathway to getting downstairs was cut off,” Newson said.
Fire engines roared to the scene near Hartwell and Marquette while neighbors frantically knocked on doors to alert others. In Newson’s case, he was asleep until firefighters tried to break down his door and had no idea of the imminent danger.
“The flames went to right where I was sleeping. I’m a hard sleeper and I don’t know how I woke up,” Newson said. “Next thing you know, I hear somebody out front saying, ‘Get out! Get out!’ I started banging on my kids’ doors.”
Another neighbor said she woke up to the smell of something burning. As she ran outside, she captured the initial moments where she thought she was going to lose her own home.
“Some people don’t have nowhere to lay their head. Luckily, I do,” neighbor Patricia said.
According to the Chicago Fire Department, the fire started in a vacant home before spreading to Newson’s home and another on the other side that’s also been vacant for years.
Sources told WGN News that at least one person was seen running from the area as the flames went up. Residents shared their frustration and said they believe this could have been prevented.
“If they’re not going to fix it, tear it down,” Patricia said.
“It just became a nuisance to us, to the neighbors,” Newson added.
For Newson, he lost more than just the roof over his head.
“My mom passed during COVID, so there’s a lot of memories in that house for her,” he said. “It’s just shocking. I’m still in shock and disarray.”
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire has not been released.