Two people were rescued, and others evacuated, during a two-alarm fire Saturday morning in Aurora that left a 2½-story single-family home uninhabitable, according to the Aurora Fire Department.
On Saturday at around 8:29 a.m., the fire department responded to a reported structure fire in the 200 block of Prairie Street on Aurora’s West Side, according to a news release from the fire department.
Multiple 911 calls reported people trapped inside, and responding crews found visible smoke while en route, officials said. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a 2½-story single-family home, with visible fire coming from the basement, according to the release.
Several people were trapped near second-floor windows, the release said, and one resident jumped into the arms of an Aurora police officer before ladders were placed. Another person was rescued by firefighters using a ground ladder on the side of the home.
The remaining occupants were able to evacuate, and firefighters conducted searches to ensure no one was left inside, according to the release.
Two civilians and a police officer ultimately sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital during the incident, the news release said. Having sustained significant damage, the home was declared uninhabitable, officials said.
Four engine companies, two truck companies, three medic units and two chief officers — 26 personnel in all — responded to the scene, the release said.
Firefighters remained on the scene for an extended period to help with salvage and ventilation and to help residents recover personal belongings, the release said. Members of Aurora’s Emergency Management Agency assisted with traffic control due to icy conditions caused by the firefighting efforts.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Aurora Fire Department, the release said.
