Video just after the fire was struck at Saratoga Apartments, 5550 Astor Lane in Rolling Meadows.
Rolling Meadows police and firefighter/paramedics responded to an automatic fire alarm at Saratoga Apartments, 5550 Astor Lane, just before 6:40 p.m. Friday. Within minutes residents were reporting fire in an apartment unit and smoke in the hallway. When the first police officer arrived on the scene, he reported flames showing out the windows of the second floor of the apartment building. Firefighters he could not see on the other side of the building were already calling for additional resources.
Firefighters immediately called for a Box Alarm and then a second alarm. At least two people were transported to a local hospital. At least four ambulances responded to the fire scene for any injured residents. At least one ambulance was on the scene for standby and rehab of firefighters on the scene. Ambulance were posted on the north side of the fire building and the south side of the building. Some residents, who rushed out without warm clothing sat in heated police cars on the south side. Many residents described thick smoke in the hallway, and some commented about smoke detectors activated in uninvolved apartment units.
Rolling Meadows fire and police officials are investigating the fire.
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