'Obstructions' Hinder Firefighters' Efforts Battling House Fire

A man and his two dogs escaped with their burning house in an early morning fire on Aug. 16.
The Oak Lawn Fire Department responded to a call of a house fire at the  the corner of 96th Street and 51st Avenue around 3:47 a.m. Arriving units found heavy smoke and fire showing on arrival and attempted an interior attack, Oak Lawn Fire Chief George Sheets said.
"Due to numerous obstructions inside, it made our firefighting efforts very difficult to find the seat of the fire," the fire chief said.
There were no injuries. The homeowner was able to escape with the clothes on his back and two dogs.
"This guy recently lost his parents earlier in this year and now his home," Sheets said. "He had no insurance ... this is a very sad situation."
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.