Man Critically Injured In Ft. Lauderdale Highrise Fire

FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - One person is hospitalized in critical condition after a fire at a Ft. Lauderdale highrise.

Just before 11 p.m., Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue was dispatched to the Coral Ridge Towers, at 3233 NE 34th Street, in response to a fire alarm going off.

While en-route the call was upgraded to a structure fire with smoke reported on the 14th floor.

When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from the upper floors and residents of the condo evacuating the building.

As firefighters made their way up the stairs they ran into moderate smoke on floors 12 to 16.

On the 14th floor they encountered heavy smoke and flames coming from one of the apartments. They forced their way inside and found a seriously injured man who they carried down the stairs to an awaiting Fort Lauderdale Medical Rescue unit. He was taken to Holy Cross hospital in critical condition. A second patient was also rescued and transported by Fort Lauderdale paramedics to Holy Cross with smoke inhalation.

There were no other serious injuries.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.