Man critically injured in Uptown fire, 12 displaced

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Updated: February 18, 2012 1:22PM

A man was critically injured and a firefighter was treated for cuts following a Uptown fire that displaced, 12 residents Saturday morning.

A still-and-box alarm was called for the fire in a three-story building 1217 W. Lawrence Ave., according to Fire Media Affairs. The fire began about 6:55 a.m. The building is a 6-unit condominium building, according to police.

Firefighters saw a man waving from a third-floor window and raised a ladder for him to climb out, Fire Media Affairs said. Before he could, he fell back in the apartment and firefighters had to climb up the ladder to bring him down.

The man, believed to be about 40 years old, was taken in “very critical” condition to Weiss Memorial Hospital with “heavy smoke inhalation,” according to Fire Media Affairs. He has since been transferred to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.

A firefighter at the scene suffered minor cuts, according to Fire Media, and was taken in good condition to Weiss Memorial Hospital.

The fire was extinguished about 7:40 a.m. and 12 people were displaced.

The fire resulted in temporary reroutes to the CTA’s No. 81 Lawrence Avenue bus, since emergency vehicles blocked traffic on Lawrence between Magnolia and Broadway.