Mar 20, 2008 5:51 am US/Central
Firefighter, Police Officer Hurt In Condo Blaze
Authorities Say Fire Appears Suspicious
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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A condo fire near Armitage Avenue and Pulaski Road left a firefighter and police officer injured, and authorities say it is suspicious.
CBS
A Chicago police officer and a firefighter are both recovering from injuries they suffered from rescuing people from a burning condo building in the West Side's Hermosa neighborhood – and authorities say the fire was no accident.
About 9:15 p.m., a resident at 1906 N. Keystone Ave., near Armitage Avenue and Pulaski Road, called 911 after noticing her rear porch was on fire, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.
The Fire Department called a still-and-box alarm after receiving reports of people trapped in the building, Langford said. A husband and wife were stuck in the attic until crews could get a ladder up to a window to rescue them.
"I thought we were not going to make it," said condo resident Lydia Crespo. "Thank God I didn't have my kids with me – I have three kids. Thank God they stayed over at my aunt's house. I'm very grateful for that."
Both people were pulled from the home safely by fire crews and refused hospital treatment, but a Grand Central District police officer who entered the home to make sure no one was trapped inside "took in a pretty good dose of smoke," Langford said.
The officer was taken in good condition to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center.
A firefighter was also treated on the scene for a minor foot injury, Langford said.
Crews arrived on the scene in about three minutes, and by then the entire back end of the building was on fire, making investigators believe someone may have ignited the blaze.
"There's very little on a rear porch that can start a fire of that caliber without getting some help," Langford said.
The fire was put out in about ten minutes, but the home sustained major smoke damage.
Several people were displaced by the blaze, but were being assisted in finding alternate housing Wednesday night.
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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