Feb. 18--A three-story building caught fire about 7 a.m. this morning in the Uptown neighborhood, critically injuring one resident and slightly injuring a firefighter, officials said.
Each floor of the building on the 1200 block of West Lawrence Avenue caught fire, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman said.
One man, about 40 years old, was "very critical" with "heavy smoke inhalation," and was taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital, the spokesman said on the Fire Department media office's Twitter account. He was later transfered to Stroger Hospital for treatment.
One firefighter received a cut on his head and was taken to Weiss in good-to-fair condition, according to the Fire Department.
Fire crews saw the victim at a window on the third floor, waving, but he fell back into the apartment before firefighters ascending a ladder were able to reach him, according to the Fire Department. Firefighters using the ladder were able to enter the apartment through a window and rescue him.
Twelve adults were displaced by the fire, the spokesman said. Traffic was blocked on Lawrence as smoke billowed from the building and crews fought the fire, which was brought under control about 7:40 a.m.
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