2 Firefighters Hurt, Resident And Cat Rescued From Evanston Blaze

EVANSTON, IL — Two firefighters and a resident were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries after a fire in the 2200 block of Sherman Avenue, fire officials said.

Evanston fire crews arrived at the burning single-family house at 9:09 p.m. to find the south side of the home engulfed in flames, according to a department release. Firefighters noticed a confused resident in the front doorway and the house filling with smoke, it said.

A witness described seeing a naked person who appeared to be throwing items from the porch into the burning house before emergency personnel arrived.

After moving the resident away from danger and directing water at the blaze from outside, fire crews headed in, according to the release.

As they searched the house and began attacking the fire from inside, the news release said, firefighters found and rescued the family cat.

The alarm was upgraded to call in mutual aid from other municipalities in the area to help tackle the fire and cover the city in case of other emergencies. The blaze was extinguished within 60 minutes of its initial report, according to fire officials.

Deputy Chief Paul Polep said the fire spread from the basement through the walls of the house to the first and second floor. The home was left with "extensive damage," he said.

The two firefighters suffered minor soft tissue injuries and have since been released from the hospital, Polep said. The home's resident was also taken to an area hospital, reportedly in good condition.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. The fire prevention bureau of the Evanston Fire Department was tasked with investigating.