A structure fire was reported at Old Orchard Place Townhouses, 1001 W. Lincoln Highway Friday night. Residents reported seeing smoke and flames and being notified by neighbors.

"Someone knocked on the door, and the smoke was a clear indicator," said sophomore Fred Zimmer, a resident at the complex.

Old Orchard resident Jeff Greenwald reported calling 911 at 10:16 p.m. when he was walking back to his residence.

"I was walking back from the computer lab and I saw a lot of smoke billowing from the end of the building, and I walked around to the back and saw smoke coming from the roof, and then I saw fire," Greenwald said.

Displaced residents were reportedly given a place to stay temporarily at the Stevens Building on the NIU campus while the fire was controlled by local departments.

Emergency responders from Genoa-Kingston, Hinckley, Maple Park and other area fire departments lined Lincoln Highway until after midnight.

Greenwald said police told residents they probably wouldn't be able to get back into the building until Saturday morning at the earliest.

"I don't think it will affect me very much," said sophomore Jesse Hartpence, who is an Old Orchard resident. "But I feel bad for the other people."

A representative from the DeKalb County Chapter of the American Red Cross said residents were being held temporarily at the Stevens Building and that hotel accommodations would be set up for residents after checking in there if necessary.

Some residents were allowed to re-enter their town homes as early as 1:24 a.m. after being displaced while emergency crews tended the fire.

The cause of the fire and the severity of damage are still unknown. Police said a press release with details on the fire would be released as early as Saturday morning.

Editor's note: Jessica Sabbah contributed to this story.

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