Chicago Firefighters Extinguish Fire in 2 Houses on Lotus Ave, Protect Church Next-Door

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Firefighters Battling House Fire @CitizenApp

657 N Pine Ave 12/21/25 8:06:40 PM CST

Police, firefighters, and paramedics from Chicago responded about 7:50 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2025 to fight fires two houses in the block of 600 North Lotus Avenue in Chicago. One firefighter was transported to Cook County Stroger Hospital, and a civilian was also transported by EMS, but according to fire command the medical condition of the civilian was not related to the fire.




The fire was initially reported on Pine Avenue, but was corrected to Lotus Avenue — the next parallel street east. Firefighters on arrival discovered two vacant homes on fire. The homes were just south of a vacant church, which firefighters protected while fighting the fire in the two houses. The church is located at the southwest corner of Lotus Avenue and Huron Street in the Austin neighborhood.

The injured firefighter fell through a floor in one of the dangerous, vacant, burning buildings, but he was rescued immediately, and transported to Stroger Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The fire alarm response was elevated to a Still and Box and then a 2-11 Alarm. There was a Mayday Alarm and EMS Plan 1 activated when the firefighter fell through the floor.

Buildings affected …
646 North Lotus — vacant house, now destroyed.

652 North Lotus — vacant house, now destroyed.

656 North Lotus — vacant church.

The vacant church was built in 1927, and was once known as the Moreland Lutheran Church.

Firefighters raised a main aerial from a ladder truck near the church to be prepared in case the church building ignited. Initially, it was unknown if there was any damage to the church building.

At the peak of firefighting operations there were seven master streams flowing water.

Firefighters Battling House Fire @CitizenApp

657 N Pine Ave 12/21/25 8:06:40 PM CST

Firefighters Battling House Fire @CitizenApp

657 N Pine Ave 12/21/25 8:06:40 PM CST

Firefighters Battling House Fire @CitizenApp

657 N Pine Ave 12/21/25 8:06:40 PM CST

DEVELOPING IF CONTENT IS AVAILABLE …




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