CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Fire swept through a four-story apartment building in the Chatham neighborhood, injuring four people, with one in critical condition.
Firefighters got several distress calls at 5:20 Tuesday morning, from the building at 714 East 82nd Street. A 2-11 response was called by about 5:35 a.m. and quickly elevated to a 3-11 alarm, Fire Media Affairs said.
First responders called an EMS Plan 1, which automatically sends five ambulances to the scene, expecting to need the extra crews for rescues.
An extra-alarm calls for at least 8 engines, four trucks, two tower ladders, an ambulance and the Command Van to the scene.
When they arrived, people were hanging out of the windows and one person had already jumped from an upper floor to the alley. Firefighters said the blaze started near a staircase that was heavily involved, making it unusable for escape.
Firefighters put a lot of water on the top floor of the courtyard style building and kept the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.
One person was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, two people were taken to Jackson Park Hospital -- one in fair-to-serious and one in good condition.
A fourth person was taken in good condition to St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center, Fire Media Affairs said.
Residents said the smoke was thick and they were frightened. They believe one of their neighbors was connected to the fire because they say she admitted to it.
They said police took her into custody, but officials say the cause of the fire is still not known.
The fire was under control before 7 a.m. and fire crews wrapped up operations around 8 a.m.
On the way to the scene one truck was involved in a minor accident, according to Fire Media Affairs, but it was replaced.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
