PASADENA, Calif. - Three people, including a police officer, suffered smoke inhalation Tuesday night trying to rescue a woman from a two-alarm house fire on the northwest side of the city.
Firefighters arrived at 730 Palisade St. minutes after the 10:11 p.m. fire was reported and pulled a woman in her late 60s from a ground-floor window of the home, said Lisa Derderian, a Fire Department spokeswoman.
"All four were taken to the hospital," she said. "They were very fortunate with the conditions on the arrival of the firefighters.
"Fortunately, it was a good ending" with no serious injuries, Derderian said.
Firefighters on the way to the scene had been told that someone might have been inside the burning home, so rescue became a priority even before they arrived, she said.
Neighbors were trying to put the fire out with a garden hose and rescue the woman.
"They gave a great effort," Derderian said, "but they had to back down due to smoke and flames."
All five of the Fire Department's ambulances were called to the scene, and Glendora and South Pasadena assisted the city with other calls while Pasadena's ambulances were at the fire.
In addition to the ambulances, six engines, three trucks and 52 firefighters were dispatched to the fire.
Damage to the structure was estimated at $100,000 with $75,000 in damage to the contents.
Information on the condition of the four injured people was not available Wednesday. Earlier reports indicated that the resident and one other person were held at a hospital for observation and that the two others were released.
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