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4 Buildings Burn In Back Of The Yards

UPDATED 09/16/11 6:21 a.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An extra-alarm fire in the Back of the Yards neighborhood engulfed four buildings Friday morning.

The fire broke out in the 1200 block of West 52nd Street, just west of Racine Avenue and near Sherman Park, Fire Media Affairs said.

The first building to catch fire was at 1214 W. 52nd St. The building collapsed and burned to the ground.

Flames also spread to as many as three neighboring buildings, all three-flat apartment homes, CBS 2's Kris Habermehl reported. The other buildings survived the fire, but were severely damaged.

A total of 11 people were displaced as a result of the fire, including three children.

A still-and-box alarm was initially called for the fire, but it was quickly upgraded to a 2-11 alarm, which calls out a total of eight engines, four trucks, two tower ladders, and several other emergency vehicles.

By 5:35 a.m., the fire was under control, CBS 2's Derrick Young reported.

But as of the 6 a.m. hour, Racine Avenue remained closed from 51st Street to Garfield Boulevard, and 52nd Street was closed between Loomis Boulevard and May Street.

Primary, secondary and final searches found no one inside any of the buildings that were still standing after the fire was out, Habermehl reported. The Office of Fire Investigations will be examining the buildings.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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