15 injured in Des Plaines explosion and fire at condo building on Harding Avenue
Fifteen people were injured, three of them critically, in an explosion and fire in a condo building in Des Plaines, Illinois, overnight.
Firefighters responded to a report of an explosion and fire at a three-story building at 1279 Harding Ave just before 1 a.m. and found heavy flames and smoke.
Video from the scene shows firefighters on ladders working to control the flames as emergency responders on the ground treated residents. Fire officials confirmed that multiple people were rescued from balconies.
Officials said a total of 15 people were injured in the fire. Eight people were taken to hospitals, three of them in critical condition, and seven were treated at the scene but declined to go to the hospital. The fire chief said five have now been stabilized at the hospital.
The fire was brought under control at about 5:30 a.m.
One neighbor told CBS News Chicago she heard a "very big explosion" followed by people yelling, "Help me."
Another resident said she escaped the fire by jumping off a balcony into a garbage can. She said she woke up to what sounded like an explosion and saw fire in the hallway.
"I went to the window to see what happened, and the guy upstairs was screaming, 'I'm on fire,'" She said.
The City of Des Plaines said two residents reported smelling gas earlier Tuesday afternoon.
Officials said the building was deemed uninhabitable after the fire, leaving all tenants displaced. The American Red Cross was providing assistance to those left displaced.
The cause of the fire and explosion were under investigation on Wednesday afternoon by the Des Plaines Fire Department, Des Plaines Police Department, with assistance from Cook County, the Illinois fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Nicor Gas released a statement about the incident, writing, "Nicor Gas responded to the 1200 block of Harding Avenue in Des Plaines this morning where we remain on scene and continue to assist local authorities with their investigation. The safety of our customers, our employees and the communities we serve is our highest priority."
