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Fire In Heatless South Shore Building Leaves 17 Homeless

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Seventeen people were left homeless Wednesday morning when a fire broke out in a large South Side apartment building.

The fire broke out shortly before 1:20 a.m. at the building at 7631 S. East End Ave., Fire Media Affairs spokesman Joe Roccasalva said.

Everyone escaped safely, and no one was injured, but 17 residents were displaced, he said.

But residents say there have been problems in the building since last weekend, when hot water and heat were cut off.

One woman says problems have been escalating since last spring, when the building went into foreclosure.

The fire started in a basement furnace, according to Roccasalva. The cause remained under investigation early Wednesday.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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