Ten people including an 81-year-old woman were hurt in an apartment fire in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.
The fire broke out overnight near Karlov and North Avenues. One victim reported being trapped in the building before being rescued by firefighters.
She didn’t want to be identified but told NBC Chicago through an interpreter: “I was sleeping at the time my sister-in-law woke me up, and she went to take me out,” she recalled. “At the time there was a lot of smoke and we we’re not sure where to exit there was a lot of fire on the back and a lot of smoke on the front.”
The woman is from Ecuador and has lived here for about a year. She said she, her brother, sister-in-law and nephew had to be rescued from the fire.
“We tried to exit through the front door but again there was a lot of smoke, so we had to go back to the apartment, and we were shouting for help through the window and that’s where the firefighters pulled us out of the building,” she said. “They checked us and took us to different hospitals but thank God, they got us all out.”
Firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke coming from the basement and residents evacuating.
“We did have some fire extensions to get up to the upper floors and the back porches, so we had a total of approximately 4 lines on the interior battling the fire,” said Deputy District Chief Ernie Pinkston Jr, Chicago Fire Department’s 4th District.
The Deputy District Chief also praised the work of firefighters to make sure everyone made it out safely.
“The men and women of the fire department on the scene did a great job with the circumstances of the cold weather,” he said. “[They] did a fantastic job and all our searches were final and negative.”
Paramedics could be seen loading victims into ambulances. Many of them were treated for smoke inhalation, including an 81-year-old woman.
Alexander Espada lives right next door and said she’s the owner the building.
“She’s been here like I said for about 28 years,” he said. “Very nice family, very to themselves, they take care of the sidewalks sometimes they’ll even take care of mine.”
The Chicago Fire Department said a total of ten people were transported: 3 in serious to critical condition and 7 believed to be in fair condition.
With the holidays right around the corner, Espada is worried about his neighbors and wants to do his part to help as they rebuild.
“I don’t know where they’re going to stay. We can open our doors to a few of them, but our house isn’t that big,” he said. “I just want us all to be able to reach out to each other as neighbors you know.”
The American Red Cross is helping residents displaced by the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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