Chicago, IL – Firefighters have evacuated four buildings at the north end of the Englewood neighborhood on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, while fought a blaze at one building where an apparent natural gas buildup has caused an explosion.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m., the Fire Department got a report of an explosion at 5537 S. Peoria St., according to Fire Media Affairs Asst. Director Eve Rodriguez. Crews set up a collapse zone around that building and a neighboring building at 5533 S. Peoria as a precaution, though no buildings had actually collapsed, she said.
The building at 5537 S. Peoria St. was on fire. Both 5533 and 5537 S. Peoria are two-story brick homes, Rodriguez said.
A Level II Hazardous Materials response has been called because of a strong smell of natural gas in the area, she said. Firefighters evacuated four buildings in the area as a precaution.
There have been no reports of injuries and no hospital transports have been made as of about 12:10 p.m.