Fire in Pilsen Injures Five

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Aug 11, 2008 5:10PM

Five people were injured while two Chicago Police officers are being hailed as heroes after a three-alarm fire consumed multiple buildings in the Pilsen neighborhood early this morning. The fire started at 1508 W. 18th St. and spread to both adjacent buildings: 1510 and 1504 W. 18th St. Five people were taken to area hospitals for smoke inhalation, but none of the cases were life-threatening. Chicago Police Officers Laura Agin and Michael Daliege saw the smoke and immediately entered the buildings to alert sleeping residents to the danger. A Monroe District lieutenant credited the officers' quick thinking with saving lives: “As soon as they saw it, they went right in...They started banging on the doors and getting people out." Both Agin and Daliege were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and a third responding officer who was injured breaking down a door to help residents was also treated at the scene. The fire displaced 30 residents from the three buildings, according to Fire Commissioner John Brooks. [Trib, S-T]