Oct. 30--Seven people were displaced after a fire raced through an old greystone, causing a balcony to collapse Wednesday afternoon in the city's Lawndale neighborhood.
No one was injured during the blaze in the 1600 block of South Homan Avenue, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
Firefighters searched the basement, first and second floors of the old greystone, and "as the fire was in progress, the balcony of the second floor, located over the front porch, collapsed,'' Langford said.
It "could have been catastrophic'' if anyone were standing there, he said. The fire was brought under control about 2:15 p.m.
The city's Department of Human Services helped seven adults who needed somewhere to stay, Langford added.
