Fire Lieutenant Rescues 100-Year-Old Woman From South Side Blaze
CHICAGO( STMW)-- Chicago Fire Dept. lieutenant rescued a 100-year-old woman from a blaze in her South Side home Friday night in the Englewood neighborhood.
The fire was reported in the basement of a brick home at 6150 S. Marshfield Ave. about 8 p.m., Fire Media Affairs Dir. Larry Langford said. An EMS Plan 1 -- which sends at least five ambulances to the scene -- was called because of a report of people trapped inside.
Lt. Kenny Kenkowski of Engine 116 was one of the first on the scene and found two people, including a 100-year-old woman, inside the home's basement, Langford said.
"He carried her out and in heavy smoke conditions, worked on her on the ground outside and she seems to doing very well," Langford said. The woman, who was visually impaired, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in "stable" condition, he said.
She suffered smoke inhalation but was doing "extremely well for her age," Langford said. She was also talking while in the ambulance and told paramedics she was thankful to get out of the blaze alive.
Another man was also inside the home and had refused to leave the elderly woman alone, Langford said. That man was also carried by the lieutenant but did not require medical attention.
Kenkowski, a department veteran, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital after twisting his knee, Langford said. He was listed in good condition.
The fire was contained to the basement and was extinguished in about 20 minutes, Langford said.
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