Jan. 06--Updated 1 a.m. Three of the four firefighters have been released from hospitals. One remains at Mercy.
ST. CHARLES --Four firefighters were sent to the hospital Sunday night after a flash fire ignited the entire first floor of a home where they were fighting a fire in the 600 block of Nancy Drive in St. Charles.
The fire started around 7:30 p.m. in the basement and firefighters believe it may have started in a fireplace.
Captain Dan Casey, public information officer with the St. Charles Fire Department, said that four firefighters were inside the house when the flash fire ignited the first floor. Two of the firefighters were trapped and at first didn't answer their radios. A "mayday" call went out and a crew was being sent in to rescue them when the two firefighters were able to get out through a window.The two suffered burns and were taken to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur.
The two other firefighters were taken to SSM St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles. They were treated for minor injuries and released, a hospital spokesman said Sunday night.
None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
Casey said that the residents got out safely before firefighters arrived. One cat was rescued, one ran away and a third cat's whereabouts were unknown Sunday night.
A dog was rescued from the home and resuscitated with a dog oxygen mask, Casey said.
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