Hospitalized Firefighter From U Of C Blaze Released
CHICAGO (CBS) - A Chicago firefighter is out of the hospital after being struck by debris Tuesday evening, while fighting a blaze in the Math-Stat Building on University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus.
The fire was reported about 6 p.m. Tuesday at the building at 5727 S. University Ave., which is officially named the Statistics and Mathematics building. The fire was quickly upgraded to a 2-11, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Quention Curtis said.
The fire was burning on the top floor of the three-story brick building, which is under an ongoing under rehab. Flames were initially shooting through the roof.
One firefighter was hospitalized, Curtis said. His injuries were not considered life-threatening, but he was taken to University of Chicago Hospital in stable condition.
The firefighter was struck by debris as he fought the fire, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford. He was released from the hospital Wednesday and is "doing fine," Langford said.
The Math-Stat Building had been under reconstruction at the time of the fire, and no students, faculty or staff were inside, the U of C News Office reported.
While the high winds Tuesday evening did not hamper firefighting efforts, they did prompt officials to evacuate several nearby homes and office buildings.
In addition, the shuttle bus hub that is usually located in front of the Reynolds Club student union at 57th Street and University Avenue was moved two blocks west to 57th Street and Ellis Avenue, the U of C reported.
The Chicago Maroon student newspaper reported that fire equipment took up the entire length of University Avenue between 57th and 58th streets, and much of 57th Street near University Avenue. The Maroon reported that three brothers from the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity just to the south helped a firefighter set up a hose.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
