CHICAGO, IL — A Chicago family says a house fire in Logan Square turned an ordinary Saturday night into a frightening race to safety, leaving them without their belongings and facing a sudden restart. Sisters Elizabeth Romero and Yusmery Marin said they ran from the building wearing only slippers and the clothes they had on when flames from the neighboring house spread to theirs.
The family had gathered for one of their regular weekend evenings together when the fire broke out. What followed, they said, was a scene of screaming outside, fast-moving flames and a desperate effort to get everyone out before the heat and smoke made the escape even harder. In the middle of snow, cold wind and shock, Red Cross volunteers arrived to help them begin the long process of recovery.
A regular family night ended in an emergency
Romero and Marin described Saturday nights as a time when their home was usually filled with comfort food, laughter and children trying out the latest social media trends. The gathering was part of a routine that made the home feel warm and familiar.
That feeling changed quickly on a cold night in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. The sisters said they heard screaming outside and stepped out to find flames climbing from the house next door. In only moments, the fire grew stronger and then spread to their own building, forcing the family to leave immediately.
They said they had no time to grab jackets or important items. The family made it out in slippers, then had to face the cold with little more than what they were wearing.
How quickly a home fire can change everything
The American Red Cross says families may have as little as two minutes to escape safely during a home fire. That narrow window can leave little time to think, let alone collect medication, documents or other essentials.
Romero and Marin said the shock of the moment was made worse by the weather. Freezing temperatures, snow and strong winds made the immediate aftermath even more painful as they stood outside after losing their home.
The sisters said the fire took away much more than furniture or clothing. It also removed the sense of safety that comes with a home, along with the daily routines and memories built inside it.
Red Cross volunteers arrived with blankets, food and reassurance
After the flames were out and emergency crews had moved on, Red Cross volunteers stepped in to help the family with urgent needs. Elizabeth Romero said the volunteers brought food, water and blankets and helped get them out of the cold.
She said the emotional support mattered just as much as the supplies. In the middle of a frightening night, the volunteers offered empathy and a calm presence when the family was overwhelmed by what had happened.
The Red Cross response gave the sisters something they had not expected in that moment: a sense that they were not dealing with the disaster alone. For them, that comfort became part of the first step toward recovery.
Starting over brings practical and emotional challenges
Yusmery Marin said the loss of a home affects far more than property. She described the experience as losing belongings, peace and a safe space all at once, with the emotional strain carrying into the body as well as the mind.
After a fire, families often have to figure out temporary shelter, food, clothing, transportation and other urgent needs. They may also have to replace medications or medical equipment, while still dealing with insurance questions and housing decisions.
The Red Cross says trained volunteers and staff often respond within hours to help manage those early problems. The goal is not just to hand out supplies, but to help families stay grounded while they face an uncertain stretch of recovery.
Greater Chicago volunteers respond to several home fires each day
The American Red Cross says volunteers in the Greater Chicago area respond to three to four home fires every day. The organization says that steady response is part of a broader effort to help people recover after disasters that can happen without warning.
Elizabeth Romero said even the smaller acts of help can make a major difference. In her family’s case, volunteers quickly arranged replacement prescription glasses for her daughter after they were lost in the fire.
That kind of help, she said, showed that kindness still exists even in a traumatic moment. The Red Cross says donor support makes that work possible before, during and after emergencies, along with disaster preparedness education and response services for families in need.