1 person still hospitalized after Harvey apartment building fire, residents displaced

The Red Cross is assisting in finding shelter for residents displaced by an apartment fire in Harvey, while one of three people hurt remains hospitalized, a spokesman for the city said Monday.

Firefighters were called Saturday afternoon to the fire in a three-story apartment building at 15406 Broadway Ave., and a Harvey police officer was hurt while trying to rescue someone jumping from the upper floor, according to the city.

The officer has since been released from Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, but a resident of the building who was initially hospitalized at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition has been moved to the burn unit at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, according to Glenn Harston, a spokesman for Harvey.

He said that the building has nine apartments, four of which were occupied, and that six residents were displaced and being aided by the Red Cross. A message left with a Red Cross seeking confirmation was not immediately returned.

Harvey firefighters were called out shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday to the fire, which was brought under control a little more than two hours later.

A third person, a resident of the building, was injured in the fire but declined medical treatment at the scene, Harston said.

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He said the fire began on the second floor and caused damage to the third floor, but the cause was still under investigation. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting with the investigation, Harston said. A message left with Harvey’s fire chief was not returned Monday.

Harston said he was not sure where the displaced residents are being sheltered.

When, or if, residents might be able to move back into the building was uncertain.

“The building is not inhabitable or safe to be in,” Harston said.

Large pools of water were evident in the front of the building Monday, apparently left from efforts to extinguish the blaze. Windows were knocked out on the third floor and a good portion of the building’s roof was gone.

According the city, several fire departments from surrounding areas were on the scene to assist and the fire was extinguished just before 8 p.m.

mnolan@tribpub.com