Four firefighters were injured in a backdraft while battling a blaze Thursday afternoon in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood.
Three firefighters were taken to Holy Cross Hospital and one was taken to University of Chicago Hospital after suffering apparent injuries, including facial burns, fire spokesman Larry Langford said.
They were hurt while trying to extinguish a fire in a 1 1/2-story coach house in the 4800 block of South Paulina Street, he said. The fire was reported about 2:45 p.m.
The firefighters were inside the home, turning the corner near a staircase when a “classic backdraft” happened, blowing the fire right on them, Langford said.
It appears the firefighters suffered minor injuries but were taken to hospitals to make sure their airways were not damaged, he said.
The fire caused extensive damage to the house, Langford said. The cause and origin were not immediately known.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services