Firefighters battle 3-alarm fire at Lake View apartment buildings
SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE August 27, 2011 4:24PM
Firefighters work to put out a three-alarm fire on the 800 block of W. Cornelia Saturday, August 27, 2011, in Chicago. No civilians were injured, and one firefighter sustained a minor shoulder injury, according to spokesman Kevin MacGregor. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
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Updated: August 27, 2011 5:08PM
One firefighter suffered a shoulder injury and was in fair condition after battling a three-alarm fire that engulfed the rear porches of two occupied apartment buildings in the Lake View neighborhood Saturday afternoon.
The 3-11 alarm was canceled at 3:10 p.m. because the blaze was out, said Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor. No civilians were injured but one firefighter was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in fair condition.
“It was a moderate, minor injury,’’ MacGregor said of the firefighter’s shoulder injury.
The fire erupted about 1:45 p.m. at a 3-story apartment building in the 800 block of West Cornelia Avenue and spread to another, connected one, according to MacGregor.
“They have a common back area,’’ according to MacGregor, who said the rear porches of both buildings became engulfed in flames.
The fire was elevated to a second alarm and at 2:50 p.m. a third alarm was initiated, said MacGregor.
All occupants of the buildings got out by themselves and no rescues were necessary. Searches of the buildings were completed.
An EMS Plan I, which automatically sends at least five ambulances to the scene, was put in place at 3 p.m. because “firemen were starting to get overworked and they needed more manpower,’’ according to MacGregor.
Town Hall District police Capt. Thomas Lemmer said police were blocking the streets in the area of the blaze.
“We have no idea what started it,’’ MacGregor said.
