CHICAGO --

A woman trapped in a burning South Side home was passed through a window into the arms of a fire chief Tuesday morning.

Firefighters went inside the building and protected a second woman, giving her a mask, until she could be helped out of the home.

Firefighters responded to 9010 S. Woodlawn Ave. at 6:20 a.m., according to Fire Media Affairs spokesman Richard Rosado, who said the blaze was mostly contained to the rear of the one-story house.

Fire crews rescued one woman through a window, according to Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor.

"They got to her. They were able to hand her out of the window to a chief," MacGregor said. She was not hospitalized.

Firefighters went inside the burning building to protect a second woman, who was unable to be moved immediately because of her size.

"A couple of guys got to her and protected her, they got a mask to her," MacGregor said. "They held her in a safe position."

The woman inside the building suffered a second-degree burn to her leg and minor smoke inhalation. She was taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital in fair condition, MacGregor said.

Two other residents who were able to escape refused medical treatment on the scene.

All four residents are displaced, MacGregor said.

The fire was extinguished about 7 a.m. Its origin and cause remain under investigation.

Copyright 2008, Sun-Times News Group

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