Jan. 14--Bhutanese refugees Rupa and Kamal Khanal feared they would have to start over -- again.
They woke early Monday morning to screams, sirens, whirling lights and a loud knock at the door. The building at 1702 W. Estes Ave. in Rogers Park was in flames, and they had only minutes to flee.
They ran with little more than blankets, which they shared with neighbors as they watched the fire from the sidewalk.
On Wednesday, friends and family heaved furniture down the back stairs, disassembled beds and took pictures from the wall. Workers installed new windows. A hint of smoke lingered. For the time being, they're staying with Rupa Khanal's parents.
But others had it worse. Some apartments were completely destroyed, their windows blown out and boarded. A slick coating of icicles clung to the building's red-brick face, a remnant of firefighters blasting the building with water. The edges of windows and doors were torched black.
Kamal Khanal said he was afraid that he, his 2-year-old daughter and his wife, who is 8 months pregnant, would lose everything.
"It affects you psychologically," Kamal Khanal said. "I've heard of fires, but it's different when it happens to you. I was so scared."
The Khanals planned to move to another apartment next week, but not like this.
They are among many people displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to 40 people, 25 of whom are permanently displaced, a spokeswoman said. Six apartments were completely ravaged by the fire.
At least seven firefighters were injured, many of them from slipping on ice while battling the blaze in subzero weather, fire officials said.Crews briefly lost track of a firefighter, and a battalion chief issued a mayday alert, officials said. The firefighter was located shortly afterward.
A statement from the Chicago Police Department said its arson unit is assisting in the investigation of the fire, which broke out about 6 a.m. Monday.
Ald. Joe Moore, 49th said he was informed by fire officials that a possible accelerant was found in a stairway.
Police said the cause had not yet been determined Wednesday.
mmccall@tribpub.com
