One firefighter suffered a minor injury as crews battled flames and freezing conditions on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
CHICAGO, IL — More than 100 firefighters fought a two-alarm blaze Friday afternoon in a multi-unit apartment complex in the 8600 block of West Foster Avenue near O’Hare International Airport, evacuating tenants in frigid weather and containing flames that had climbed into the top floors, officials said.
Authorities said the fire began around 2:15 p.m. and raced through portions of the complex as heavy smoke poured from the roof. The Chicago Fire Department mounted an aggressive interior attack while ladder crews ventilated the upper floors. With temperatures below freezing, warming buses were staged for residents and firefighters. The complex sits across from Dirksen Elementary School, where crews set up a rehab area as classes let out. By early evening, officials reported no civilian injuries and said one firefighter suffered a minor slip-and-fall injury. The cause remained under investigation late Friday.
Witnesses described a fast-moving scene as engines and trucks surrounded the property and families hurried outside with children and pets. “My neighbor knocked on my door and told me, ‘There’s fire, you have to get out,’” said tenant Olesia Kravchuk. Another resident said he smelled smoke, then heard sirens and saw firefighters ordering people to leave as thick, dark smoke rose above the block. Crews focused on flames and heat in the top floors while other teams cleared apartments to make sure everyone was out. Fire tape ringed the area and traffic slowed along Foster as lines and equipment stretched across the street.
Deputy Commissioner Donald Waker said the fire was moving inside concealed spaces. He said companies cut a trench in the roof to stop fire from spreading from apartment to apartment and credited the tactic with saving most of the building. Officials said four or five units sustained significant fire damage and part of the structure collapsed during the height of the response. Crews worked on icy pavement and periodically rotated inside to warm up, while additional companies relieved those who had used their air bottles in the first push. Late in the afternoon, firefighters were still opening walls and ceilings to chase hot spots and vent smoke.
Friday’s fire came during a cold snap that has challenged firefighters across the city this week. The department said the weather can complicate nearly every step of a response: hydrants can be sluggish, hose lines and gear can ice over and ladders can frost in minutes. City agencies opened warming centers this week, and power crews reported scattered weather-related calls. The Foster Avenue complex, on the Northwest Side just east of O’Hare, includes multiple residential units clustered near schools and neighborhood parks, a layout that can funnel traffic and draw onlookers as dismissal hours overlap with emergency operations.
Officials said the Office of Fire Investigation would examine the origin and cause, interviewing residents and reviewing building systems. Inspectors planned to assess structural stability after the partial collapse and determine when remaining residents could retrieve belongings. The firefighter hurt in the slip-and-fall was taken for evaluation in good condition, the department said. Building managers were working with emergency authorities to account for displaced tenants, and the city’s emergency management office coordinated temporary shelter and transportation through staging buses at the scene. Investigators did not provide an estimate of damage Friday night, and no timetable was set for a full all-clear.
Parents and students leaving nearby Dirksen Elementary watched crews knock down remaining flames as dusk fell. “You could feel the cold and the heat at the same time,” said Maria Lopez, who walked her child past the scene. Ice formed on helmets, gloves and railings as firefighters cycled in and out of the building. Neighbors offered blankets and checked on older residents as officials organized residents near the buses. A light smell of smoke lingered along the block while firefighters flaked hose and packed gear after hours on scene.
As of Friday evening, investigators had not announced a cause. Fire officials said companies would return overnight for checks and to secure any rekindles. Damage assessments and an update on displaced residents were expected this weekend after inspectors complete a structural review and the fire investigation makes its initial findings.
Author note: Last updated December 6, 2025.