Four Berwyn Cops Injured Rescuing Woman From Fire
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Four police officers were injured early Wednesday, when they ran into a burning apartment building to help people escape in west suburban Berwyn. A resident also suffered serious burns.
The officers were the first on the scene around 1 a.m., after a fire broke out in a three-story apartment building on the 3200 block of Maple Avenue.
They tried to rescue a woman from a second-floor apartment where the fire started.
That woman suffered significant burns in the fire, and was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where she was being treated at the burn unit.
Four officers were taken to various hospitals to be treated for smoke inhalation injuries. One officer also suffered burns to his hands while trying to rescue the woman.
Firefighters battled frigid conditions as they worked to extinguish the fire.
"It seemed like they were never going to put the fire out, and then it was just horrendous that they were going up to the top floors and knocking all the windows out," resident Rita Nelson said.
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Bewyn Fire Chief Denis O'Halloran said hydrants did not freeze in the extreme cold, "however, the challenges of the ice and the cold weather certainly challenges us to do our job, but our guys did a fine job."
Only one wing of the 28-unit courtyard building was affected by the fire. The American Red Cross assisted five people with finding temporary shelter after the fire.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
