Firefighters combat the fire at 3320 N. Halsted on Feb. 27. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Fire Department
Over 100 firefighters battled a large fire at a commercial/residential building in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood at 3320 N. Halsted, according to ChicagoBreakingNews.com .
No injuries have been reported in the 2-11 alarm blaze, which started shortly after 7 a.m. Friday morning. Traffic was blocked off on Halsted between Roscoe Street and Belmont Avenue.
At 8:15 a.m., a Fire Department spokesman said there were heavy flames throughout the building, which houses the gay bar Scarlet on the first floor and residents above. The fire reportedly started on the second floor and quickly spread.
A representative from the Chicago Fire Department told Windy City Times that the damage is "pretty bad," and said that both the bar and residences were marred "extensively." The residents of the building have been displaced. Paul Cannella, co-owner of Scarlet, concurred, telling Windy City Times that " [ t ] he damage was quite extensive, so we'll know more in the coming days."
People who live in the building have come forward about the fire. According to a report written by journalist John Fenoglio, building resident Dusty Hoffman—one of five who escaped the flames—said, "There was a big bang, like an explosion. I woke up and my room was filling with smoke."
Cindy Wulbert, principal of Nettelhorst Elementary School, told Windy City Times that one of the students had an apartment there, but added that the family is fine. "The student, who lives with her brother, is being well taken of, and we have parents who want to help," Wulbert said. "We're looking at all sorts of avenues to help out."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Cocktail, 3359 N. Halsted, held a fundraiser Monday, March 2. Another fundraiser will be held Tuesday, March 10 at Wild Pug, 4810 N. Broadway. Half of the revenue from both nights is slated to help the tenants as well as Scarlet's staff members who do not have any other source of income.