A fire damaged one apartment in the Claridge, a low-income housing apartment at 319 Dempster St. on Monday afternoon, displacing one resident, according to Evanston fire officials.
No one was injured.
The fire, which started in a first-floor kitchen, was hosed down by at least six Evanston firefighters, authorities said.
“Due to a very aggressive interior attack, our crews were able to extinguish the fire before the sprinklers were even activated,” said Evanston Fire Division Chief Kimberly Kull.
Firefighters run a fan to ventilate the first floor of the building at 319 Dempster St. Credit: Richard Cahan 
No injuries. Paramedics leave the Claridge with their equipment on their stretcher. Credit: Richard Cahan 
The burned stove was moved to the back alley by firefighters. Credit: Richard Cahan 
Tenant Randall Sieber returns to the building with Pete, his parakeet. “Today, something told me when I smelled the smoke, let me make sure I don’t leave him inside,” he said. Credit: Richard Cahan
The 48-unit, single-room occupancy building suffered serious fires in 2016 and 2021, authorities said. The building was remodeled 20 years ago so that every tenant has a small kitchen and bathroom.
Tenant Debra Burns blames the stoves. “Something needs to be done,” Burns said.
Richard Koenig, executive director of Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, which developed and manages the building, said tenants need to be more careful in cleaning their stoves.
“It’s upsetting when something like this happens,” he said. “It creates a stigma. But this is an important house for people of Evanston who need a place to live.”