Firefighters were called to Olive Street on the city’s far Westside Monday morning for a house on fire with people trapped inside. When they arrived, the two family home was engulfed in flames, and extending to a house next door.
Crews were hampered by a live electrical line that had fallen on the ground, and a hose that sprung a leak. Large sections of the house collapsed where victims were located, forcing firefighters to fight the blaze from outside.
Seven people lived in the home, and 6 were home at the time. Two women perished in the fire. Two others were taken to the hospital. Residents in the neighboring home safely evacuated. In all, 61 firefighters responded to the scene.
Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, a firefighter was hurt by a collapsing roof as he searched for occupants in a three story apartment building on Remington Avenue in the Outer Comstock neighborhood. He was treated and released from the hospital that evening and is recovering.
In all, 34 firefighters responded to that scene. Investigators are working to determine the cause of both fires.
