Fire Officials: 'Incendiary' Edgewater Blaze Turned Over To Police
(STMW) -- A fire that injured eight people and displaced 35 in a high-rise in the North Side Edgewater neighborhood Wednesday morning was started as a result of "human action," a fire department spokesman said.
The blaze in the residential high-rise in the 5800 block of North Sheridan Road was reported at 10:41 a.m. and was extinguished by 12:20 p.m., according to police.
Fire department investigators determined that the fire was "incendiary," which means that it was the result of a person's actions, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.
However, just because a fire has been deemed incendiary doesn't necessarily mean it was started intentionally, Langford said. He said the investigation has been handed over to police to determine whether it was accidental or arson.
Eight people, including one firefighter, were hospitalized after the blaze with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and Fire Media Affairs.
Thirty-five people were displaced, according to police.
The police Bomb and Arson Unit is investigating the fire.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)