La Grange Park Fire officials are trying to determine the cause of a fire that left tenants of five apartments homeless and resulted in the death of a family pet about 8 a.m. Saturday.
Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the windows of a first-floor unit at 1645 Forest Road and a resident who was attempting to put the blaze out with an extinguisher when they arrived. A tenant and a pet cat were treated for smoke inhalation after the tenant went into the burning apartment to retrieve two carts. One of the cats died in the blaze.
The fire was extinguished 20 minutes after firefighters arrived.
Tenants from all but five of the apartments were allowed to return to their homes by 10 a.m. A car parked in front of the burning apartment was also damaged.
Management from the building assisted in relocating displaced residents.
Damage was estimated at $40,000.
