Jan. 10--A man and a woman who were believed to be squatters were hospitalized after flames engulfed a neighboring building in the West Garfield Park neighborhood tonight.
The fire broke out in a 2-story boarded-up brick apartment building at 4037 W. Van Buren about 6:30 p.m., according to Fire Department spokesman Joe Roccasalva.
Witnesses told firefighters they saw people jump from the structure. Arriving crews did not find anyone inside, he said.
A 36-year-old woman and 28-year-old man were inside another boarded-up building at 4033 W. Van Buren and suffered smoke inhalation, Roccasalva said. They were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition.
The blaze had been extinguished as of 7:30 p.m., Roccasalva said.
As temperatures is expected to dip in coming days, fire officials asked the public to look for smoke coming from vacant buildings, a sign that squatters may be inside trying to stay warm.
"Often they set fires to keep warm, but the fires they set get away from them and they often become trapped," said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
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