Fire closes Ridge Avenue near downtown Evanston

A vacant building at 1815 North Ridge Avenue near downtown Evanston which started burning just before midnight Saturday is expected to collapse forcing the closure of the roadway, according to an email from City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz.

The southbound lanes of Ridge were expected to open at 10 a.m. today but the northbound lanes could remain blocked until at least late Monday morning, according to Bobkiewicz’s email.

The Evanston Fire Department responded to the blaze and reported part of the roof on the east side of the vacant National Towel Building collapsed causing an electric fire which was put out, according to Bobkiewicz’s email.

The fire department said the building’s structure was compromised and “will potentially collapse entirely,” according to Bobkiewicz’s email. Should that happen, it is likely to fall onto northbound Ridge and part of the southbound side blocking traffic.