2 Critically Injured After Trying To Jump From West Side Fire

CHICAGO, IL — A man and woman tried to jump to escape a fire that broke out in an apartment building on Chicago's West Side early Tuesday, fire officials said. The fire broke out in an unoccupied building in the 4300 block of West Monroe Street where the two were staying, authorities said. The Chicago Fire Department said it appeared that the two were squatters in the building.

A Good Samaritan was trying to coax the two people to jump to safety, according to a report.

Just as the woman was about to jump from a burning porch, it collapsed, and both people came down with it, according to a report by ABC 7.

The man and woman were taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, officials said. They suffered from burns, smoke inhalation and other injuries, authorities said.

Neighbors said squatters have been known to smoke on the porch, the fire department said; however the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Photo via Chicago Fire Department