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Thursday afternoon, I was scrolling through social media when a post caught my eye. It was about a fire incident that happened earlier today in Evanston. The details were brief but intriguing, so I decided to dig deeper and piece together what happened.
According to the City of Evanston’s official update, emergency services were called out to the 300 block of Dempster Street around 1:07 PM today. The initial report was about an automatic fire alarm going off in a multi-story residential building. When the firefighters arrived, they quickly realized that it was more than just an alarm—there were visible signs of smoke and fire on the third floor.
Thanks to the firefighters’ swift response and the activation of the building’s sprinkler system, the fire was brought under control within about ten minutes. The flames were confined to the unit where the fire originated, which definitely helped prevent further damage. However, during their efforts to extinguish the fire, one of the teams discovered someone inside an apartment who wasn’t responding.
The victim, described as a middle-aged woman, was found unconscious and not breathing. Firefighters immediately administered first aid on the spot while calling for medical backup. Once paramedics arrived, they continued the resuscitation efforts and managed to get her pulse back before reaching the hospital. As of now, she’s in critical condition and being treated in the ICU.
It’s worth noting that this wasn’t a solo effort by the Evanston Fire Department (EFD). Mutual aid from nearby towns provided additional support so that EFD could focus fully on handling the fire. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, which makes sense given how crucial it is to figure out exactly what triggered such a dangerous situation.
To give some context to the scene, there are also photos shared by a local photographer named Larry Shapiro. His images show the aftermath of the fire—a stark reminder of how quickly situations can escalate. There’s something unsettling yet fascinating about these pictures, especially since they capture both the destruction and the resilience of the community.
This whole event has me thinking about how much we rely on first responders like the firefighters and paramedics who put themselves in harm's way every day. Their dedication and professionalism really shine through in moments like these. It’s also a sobering reminder of the importance of having proper safety measures in place, like working smoke detectors and sprinklers, which clearly made a difference here.
As I sit here reflecting on all this, I can't help but feel grateful for the people who rushed in when others were running out. It’s stories like these that highlight why we need to continue supporting our emergency services—not just with words, but with actions too.