3 people injured after escaping apartment fire on Chicago's Near North Side
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Three people were injured after escaping an apartment fire in the busy heart of Old Town overnight.
Just before midnight, flames were shooting from the fourth floor of the building at 1446 N. Wells St., between Burton Place and Schiller Street.
A man and woman were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition for smoke inhalation. A man was taken to the same hospital in good condition with a possible ankle injury.
A fourth floor resident said who escaped the fire said he heard something so loud, he thought it was a gunshot.
"I'm like nah, I've never heard a gunshot that loud inside and sure enough I started smelling something," resident Connor Weston said. "I was like, let me look outside of my window. Sure enough, there's smoke, fire, embers everywhere."
The building houses Elite Nails on the ground floor and three stories of appointments above.
A basement storefront in the building formerly housed SUITE Lounge, and before that, a bar called U.S. Blues that published reports say featured memorabilia from "The Blues Brothers." Plans were announced this past summer for a new cocktail lounge in the basement space called Caché, though they have met with community protests.
The building is also located next door to the Fireplace Inn. Published reports indicate the building was constructed in the late 19th century.
An investigation into the fire is under way.
