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Teen Boys Hurt In North Side Transformer Explosion

Updated: 10:45 p.m. 3/18/11

CHICAGO (STMW) - Two teenage boys playing on the roof of the vacant Edgewater Medical Center were hospitalized with trauma Friday night after an apparent electrical transformer explosion, fire officials said.

The electrical fire happened about 8:30 p.m. in the 5700 block of North Ashland Avenue, said police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala, citing preliminary information.

Two 15-year-old boys were apparently playing on the roof of the old Edgewater Medical Center when an electrical transformer blew, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.

One boy suffered an electrical jolt and was hospitalized in critical condition and the other was hit by debris and was in good condition, Langford said. They were taken to Comer Children's Hospital and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

It was not immediately known how the boys got on the roof, but fire officials did not have any trouble getting the boys off the roof, Langford said.

© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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