Nov 7, 2008 2:22 pm US/Central
7 Injured In Suspicious Northwest Side Fire
Child Found Hanging From Window In Mother's Arms
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Seven people were rescued from a fire at this building on Elston Avenue, which authorities are calling suspicious.
CBS
Three adults and four children have been injured in an apartment building fire on the city's Northwest Side, and authorities believe the fire was likely intentionally set.
As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, firefighters made dramatic rescues during the overnight fire at 5685 N. Elston Ave. Among them was a child who was found hanging from his mother's arms out a third floor window
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. on the top floor of the building. A police officer was in the area nearby, and he was injured while he tried to evacuate the building until firefighters arrived.
The Fire Department said the building was fully engulfed in fire and smoke when they arrived, and they set up ladders in front and in back. Five ambulances were also sent to the scene, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze within 15 minutes and contained it to the top floor, Langford said.
But four children were hospitalized with smoke inhalation and a some of the children also had second-degree burns, Langford said. Two of the children were taken in serious condition to Resurrection Medical Center and one child was taken in serious condition to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. A mother and her child were also taken to Lutheran General Hospital in good condition.
The police officer was also taken to Lutheran General Hospital for minor smoke inhalation. Another adult was taken to an area hospital in an unidentified condition.
Firefighters said a car on the street was on fire, and residents reported other trouble.
"Right now, we do have reports from some civilians that live in the area, that live in the building – and through some police reports – that this fire is being looked at as highly suspicious," said fire Deputy District Chief Thomas Lynch.
A mother was getting ready to drop her child out of the third floor window because the smoke was so thick, but firefighters were able to raise their ladders in time to rescue the child.
Investigation revealed the fire started on the third floor near the entrance to an apartment unit. That is nearly the exact location where a fire was started with an accelerant just weeks earlier, Langford said. That fire was extinguished quickly with hand pumps by firefighters.
The building's owner says it was the second suspicious fire at the building in two weeks, and they both involved the same apartment. According to him, investigators say the tenant in 2C – a woman living with her two young daughters -- may have been a target. Hers was the car that was set on fire.
"Apparently this was an old boyfriend," the owner, George Michael, said. "From what they've told me, he's incarcerated, and she was to testify today in his case."
CBS 2's Joanie Lum, Mai Martinez and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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