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CALUMET CITY, Ill. (CBS) — A woman died after a fire ripped through a residential building in Calumet City Monday night.
The fire broke out on the second floor of a condo building at 200 Park Ave. in the Park of River Oaks Condos. The fire extended to the seventh floor, fire officials confirmed.
There was a massive response at the building, with several dozen fire trucks on the scene and fire crews still applying water to a smoldering unit in the seven-story building.
The Calumet City Fire Department confirmed Monday a female resident died after suffering injuries on the seventh floor.
About three and a half hours earlier, the blaze was raging massively. It was quickly upgraded to a three-alarm response for additional equipment and manpower – in part because of the intensity of the flames, and also because the building is part of a massive condo association with a large group of seven-story buildings.
Kozlov spoke to one resident who got out very safely very early on when the smoke alarms started going off. She said she understands the fire might have started with somebody barbecuing in the back of 200 Park Ave.
The resident said there might have been some sort of propane flare-up or explosion, and the back of the building just ignited.
“We took the stairs down and we went to the back, and we saw the one tier just ablaze – just ablaze,” said Shaunessye Curry. “Hearts started racing because the embers from the flames were blowing. The wind was much higher than what it is now. The embers were blowing, and they actually started catching onto other units that were neighboring.”
Officials said a total of 80 people were displaced. Four resident and three firefighters were taken to local hospitals with non life-threatening injuries.
The fire is currently under investigation.
Source: ChicagoCBS
