Fire officials said an apartment building caught fire Thursday morning in Zion, causing the building to sustain extensive damage that resulted in all occupants being displaced.
The Zion Fire Rescue Department and Zion Police Department responded around 8:28 a.m. Thursday to the 2800 block of Elisha Avenue for a report of a structure fire.
Zion Fire Rescue Department Battalion Chief Eric Troy said police arrived first and determined all residents were out of the structure.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the second and third-floor windows. Flames were also showing from the second-floor windows.
Troy said the structure is an older construction home that had been renovated into three apartments.
“In situations such as these, void spaces become a real concern for fire growth and personnel safety,” Troy said. Warm temperatures were also a concerning factor due to the heavy gear firefighters wear, he added.
Numerous hose lines were deployed by arriving fire crews. The incident was elevated through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to bring additional firefighters to the scene.
Troy said no injuries were reported and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is assisting in the investigation into the cause of the fire.
The building sustained extensive damage, resulting in the structure becoming uninhabitable for the residents.
Some of the residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross and others are making arrangements with family, Troy said. A damage estimate was not immediately available.