CHICAGO -- Two people are dead among the four injured by smoke inhalation and burns in an extra-alarm blaze early Saturday in the Northwest Side’s Irving Park neighborhood. At least eight additional people are displaced by the fire.
A still-and-box alarm was called for a fire inside a four-story apartment building at 3912 W. Argyle St. about 1:15 a.m. for a blaze in the staircase. The fire spread quickly and the entire building became fully involved, said Fire Media Affairs spokesman Q. Curtis.
The fire was elevated from a still-and-box alarm to a 2-11 alarm at 1:21 a.m., and an EMS Plan 1 at 1:25 a.m.
Paramedics took three adults to Swedish Covenant Hospital and a minor to Children’s Memorial Hospital, Curtis said. All the injured are in "serious" to "critical" conditions.
Curtis said the fire spread to an adjacent building, reportedly 3910 W. Argyle St., but had no information on any displacements or injured parties in the second building touched by fire.
The fire was struck out about 2:20 a.m. The city Department of Human Services responded, to assist those displaced by the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.