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CINCINNATI --
Four children were dropped from a second-story window to help them escape a fire in Evanston on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire broke out inside a three-story apartment building in the 3200 block of Fairfield Avenue. Dispatchers said flames were visible from the first-floor windows.
"I grabbed some of the kids and called everyone so we could be in one station area, so when the fire trucks came, they could get everyone out," said Clarissa Chenault, the mother of 1-year-old Gabriel, one of the children in the apartment building.
Before firefighters arrived, Chenault said neighbors talked the adults into dropping the children from the second-story windows.
"He basically caught every last one (of the kids), which made me so happy because my biggest concern was my son," said Chenault.
The children all made it out safely. Three adults were rescued by firefighters. One of the adults was transported to a hospital for treatment of minor smoke inhalation.
The closest ladder truck to the fire -- Ladder 23 -- was one of four that was browned out Tuesday, but firefighters were able to get the job done.
"Normally, ladder companies assist with search and rescue, so there was potentially a delay, but the engine company performed a dual function. They put the fire out at the same time they were searching and rescuing the individuals," said District 1 Fire Chief Roy Winston.
Investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set. Fidel Christon was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated arson.
The fire caused $50,000 in damage to the building.
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