Fire Leaves Home on South Waiola 'Uninhabitable'

Heavy fire left a home on the 500 block of South Waiola uninhabitable Saturday evening, La Grange fire officials said.

Flames were coming out of the home’s first floor windows when firefighters arrived at the scene around 6:23 p.m., La Grange Fire Chief Bill Bryzgalski said.

All of the residents were outside the house upon his arrival, he said. None of them were injured. 

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 20 minutes, but investigators were still on the scene more than two hours later determining the cause.

Fire substantially damaged the first floor living room, Bryzgalski said. There is heavy smoke damage throughout the house, which is across the street from Waiola Park.

A firefighter experienced shoulder strain and was treated on the scene, Bryzgalski said. 

One of the homeowners’ pet cats was still missing as of about 8:30 p.m.

Police closed off 47th Street between Stone and Spring avenues, as well as the 500 block of South Waiola, while it served as a staging ground for firefighters and paramedics. It was still barricaded as of about 8:30 p.m.

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