A firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department was injured late Wednesday evening while fighting a fire on the city's West Side. The incident occurred at a home located at 1108 N. Waller Ave., around 9 p.m., with flames engulfing the residential structure by the time emergency services arrived. The firefighter, whose identity has not been released, was reported to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the response and was subsequently taken to a local hospital for treatment, as per Fox32 Chicago.
In the chaotic effort to contain the fire, there were initial reports indicating the firefighter may have fallen through a hole in the flooring. This was according to a witness who spoke to CBS News Chicago, although the Chicago Fire Department has not elaborated on the cause of the injuries. Investigators have yet to conclusively determine how the fire started, leaving a neighborhood and a city to question what unfolded in the shadow of a quiet night turned ablaze.
The area affected, the Austin neighborhood, is familiar with the sound of sirens and the sight of firetrucks.
At the time of reporting, it remains unclear if anyone was present in the residence when the fire began.
