Firefighters Face Icy Conditions While Battling Englewood Blaze
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago firefighters battled icy conditions and heavy flames while extinguishing a fire at an Englewood apartment building early Friday.
The fire started around 3 a.m. in a two-story brick apartment building at 56th and Peoria streets. Everyone got out safely before firefighters arrived.
With temperatures around zero at the time, firefighters had to deal with ice forming on the ground; making sure they didn't slip and get hurt while putting out the fire.
"The water gives us a real problem. It's a real fall hazard; slippery. We just called for a salt truck to come in and put some salt out so we're not all sliding around so much," Fire District Chief Jeffrey Horan said.
Despite the frigid temperatures, frozen hydrants were not an issue. However, Horan said there was a close call when the roof collapsed.
"The roof came down on us. We had guys inside, and the roof came down. Luckily nobody was injured, and we were able to pull all of our guys out," Horan said.
Twelve people were forced out of their homes; six adults and six children.