Massive Blaze Destroys Oak Park Victorian; Damages Apartment Building

Two longtime Oak Park residents about to move into the three-story Victorian house they’d been rehabbing for five months saw their dream home go up in flames Wednesday morning.

An early morning fire destroyed a house in the 500 block of North Humphrey Avenue and damaged a 12-flat apartment building next door.

The fire broke out at 4:45 a.m. in the house, according to the fire department, and quickly spread. Nine area fire departments and 65 firefighters were called to the three-alarm blaze, according to CBS Chicago. The fire was extinguished by 7 a.m.

Tom Sheehan and Stacey Previn had been working in the house Tuesday night, reports Sun-Times Media. They were ready to move in with their two teen-age sons.

Twelve apartments in the neighboring building sustained damage and the Red Cross was assisting up to 60 people in the neighborhood, CBS Chicago reported. No one was injured.

“We just feel so bad for everyone,” Previn said.

» Photos and video via WGN 9 News