Norwood Park Fire Department with a 2nd Alarm Box on Gunnison Street (VIDEO CREDIT: Steve Reddick).
Norwood Park firefighters responded to a house fire about 5:15 a.m. at 7916 Gunnison Street. Wednesday and immediately called for a box alarm on arrival. Firefighters had trouble getting water on the fire because of frozen hydrants in weather bringing the morning low to 0°F.
All eight people in the house were trapped and screaming for help when police and firefighters arrived. Firefighters and police officer raised ground ladders, and firefighters brought people down the ground ladders.
Two police officers were injured while working to help evacuate residents.
Extra ambulances were called to the scene at about 5:22 a.m. — no word yet if the paramedics were needed for fire and smoke injuries or exposure.
Crews battle intense fire at house in Norridge
http://t.co/UbAvk3cu56 pic.twitter.com/SmJMr4iy5H
— NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) January 7, 2015
2-alarm residential fire at Gunnison near Canfield. Canfield is blocked between Lawrence and Gunnison. pic.twitter.com/eKU6385GQc
— ChicagoDrives (@ChicagoDrives) January 7, 2015
A second level box alarm was requested at 5:42 a.m. Fire engines for the second alarm were requested to the south side of the house fire to fight the fire from spreading to apartments to the south of the original house fire location.
Ambulances from Elmwood Park, Northlake, Park Ridge, Westchester, Bensenville, and Niles were requested at the scene of the house fire.
Firefighters fighting the fire responded from Broadview, Elmwood Park, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schiller Park and Stone Park. Prospect Heights responded with a 3,000 gallon tanker truck — “Tanker 9” from their fire station headquarters on Camp McDonald Road to assist Norwood Park firefighters with water problems from frozen hydrants.
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