Residential Building Catches Fire, Displacing 3 Residents: AFD

AURORA, IL — Three adults were displaced after a fire broke out Thursday afternoon at a residential building in the 600 block of Front Street, officials said.

Aurora firefighters were called at 12:10 p.m. to the 2.5-story building and came across fire coming from the second floor of the building. The fire alarm was upgraded while crews were en route, bringing a total of 29 personnel to the scene.

When units arrived, they encountered heavy fire conditions on the second floor of the three-unit building, with smoke and fire extending into the attic.

Initial reports indicated a resident may have been inside the building as the fire engulfed it, but a search confirmed no one was trapped, officials said.

Crews brought the fire under control within about 30 minutes of the initial 911 call.

The rear unit on the upper floor sustained the worst damage, officials said. The building was deemed uninhabitable, displacing three adults. The owner of the property is assisting tenants with temporary housing arrangements.

No one was injured in the fire, officials said.

Crews remained on the scene for more than two hours overhauling the space and investigating the cause of the fire, which remains to be determined, officials said.

"Early reports indicated someone may still have been inside the building, which adds urgency and complexity to any fire response," Aurora Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Nickel said in a statement. "Our crews quickly initiated fire attack and search operations, ensuring the structure was thoroughly searched while simultaneously bringing the fire under control."