Chicago Fire Department truck crashes into Auburn Gresham home at 77th and Damen, displacing 2

CHICAGO (WLS) — Two people have been displaced after a Chicago Fire Department fire truck crashed into a home in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood Monday night, police said.

The owner and his family were allowed briefly back inside to grab some belongings as building inspectors assess the structure to determine what happens next.

“I didn’t know what happened until I saw the light shining through the wal and I realized then hey that’s a firetruck,” homeowner Herman Campbell said.

Just before 10 p.m. Monday night, Campbell was sitting on his couch in the living room at his home at the corner of 77th Street and Damen Avenue, his granddaughter not far away in the kitchen, when he heard a strange sound.

“I was sitting watching TV when all of a sudden I heard a loud sound boom,” Campbell said. “It happened so fast I didn’t have a chance to do nothing but roll with the punches.”

Police said the driver of this Chicago Fire Department truck was traveling southbound on Damen Avenue when police say the driver lost control and slammed into the single story brick home, causing significant damage.

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No one inside the home or on the truck was injured.

Building inspectors took a look around and inside the home to determine if it’s structurally sound. This as Herman and his family are left trying to figure out what they are supposed to do next.

“We left for a little bit to go pickup my granddad’s medication and when we came back we came back to a gaping hole in his house with belongings our couch, TV, everything,” Jasmine White said. “I don’t know how comfortable we are his whole home being exposed no nothing.”

Herman was told the structure of his longtime home may be compromised, so he cannot go back inside and retrieve any of his belongings. He just has to wait.

“I’m upset, really upset,” Campbell said. “That’s my home.”

It’s still unclear if the truck was heading to an emergency call and what caused the driver to crash into the building.