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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A neighbor helped rescue a woman from a house fire Tuesday morning in Arlington Heights after forcing his way into a locked home with a sledgehammer.
What we know:
The Arlington Heights Fire Department responded around 10 a.m. to reports of a house fire with people trapped inside in the 1100 block of North Dryden Avenue. First-arriving crews reached the scene within three minutes and found a single-car garage fully engulfed in flames and adjacent to the residence.
One of the home's occupants was rescued by a neighbor who noticed the fire, used a sledgehammer to break open the locked front door and carried her out of the house, according to fire officials. A second occupant was able to escape the home without assistance.
Firefighters conducted a full search of the home and confirmed all occupants had safely exited or been removed.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire in the garage and keep it from spreading into the main residence. Minor damage was reported to one nearby property.
Both occupants were evaluated at the scene by Arlington Heights Fire Department paramedics. One person was taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment, while the other was released at the scene.
What they're saying:
Fire officials praised the neighbor’s fast and selfless actions, crediting him with helping remove someone from immediate danger.
What's next:
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Arlington Heights Fire and Police fire investigation team.
Arlington Heights firefighters were assisted by crews from Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights. Additional station coverage was provided by departments from Schaumburg, Wheeling, Palatine and Glenview.
The Source: Details for this story were provided by the Arlington Heights Fire Department in a press release.