Fiery Blaze Erupts in Calumet Park Apartment, Displacing Residents

Several people forced to rebuild after early morning fire in south suburban Chicago

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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An early morning fire broke out at a two-story apartment building in Calumet Park, Illinois, forcing several residents to evacuate and leaving them displaced. The Calumet Park Fire Department responded to the three-alarm fire, which appears to have started in the boiler room. One firefighter was treated for a minor injury, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Why it matters

Apartment fires can have devastating impacts on residents, leaving them without a home and forcing them to rebuild their lives. This incident highlights the importance of fire safety and prevention measures in multi-unit dwellings, as well as the need for support services to assist displaced residents in the aftermath of such events.

The details

The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday at the apartment building located at 123rd and Bishop Streets. Resident Charlene Davis was asleep when she was awakened by a loud noise and discovered the fire in her living room. She immediately evacuated and went door-to-door to alert other residents. The Calumet Park Fire Department responded and had to call for additional resources to extinguish the flames, which had reached a three-alarm level. One firefighter was treated at the hospital for a minor injury.

  • The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Charlene Davis was asleep when she was awakened by the fire around 6:30 a.m.

The players

Charlene Davis

A resident of the apartment building who was awakened by the fire and evacuated, losing all of her possessions.

Calumet Park Fire Department

The fire department that responded to the three-alarm fire and worked to extinguish the flames.

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What they’re saying

“Mentally I'm not okay, every now and then I start crying because I lost everything. I have nothing except for what I have on—it's just hard, it's hard, how do you come back from this you know.”

— Charlene Davis, Resident (NBC Chicago)

“A nice fireman I don't know his name or who he was, but he went back in, he got my mother's urn for me because I kept telling him, I was like, my mommy's urn is in there—please go get it and then he did.”

— Charlene Davis, Resident (NBC Chicago)

What’s next

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Calumet Park Fire Department. The American Red Cross has been called in to assist the 16 displaced residents.

The takeaway

This apartment fire highlights the devastating impact that such events can have on residents, leaving them without a home and forcing them to rebuild their lives. It underscores the importance of fire safety and prevention measures in multi-unit dwellings, as well as the need for robust support services to aid displaced residents in the aftermath.