A pair of Chicago Police officers Wednesday rescued an elderly woman in a wheelchair from a burning building and helped alert an entire South Shore building that they were in danger.
"If it hadn't been for the police department, I don't know where we'd be right now," said Julius Riley, a resident of the building who escaped unharmed. "Thank you very much. Thank you and God Bless,"
The fire broke out about 1 a.m., in the 7200 block of S. Stony Island. Chicago Police officers in the area spotted smoke coming from the roof of the 2 1/2 story townhouse. Witnesses say the officers kicked in the door of the building and ran inside where they found an elderly woman in a wheelchair.
The fire displaced 10 people, seven adults and three children.
"Fortunately everybody was saved, nobody was injured and the fire department got here quick," said Kristopher Krizka, a Chicago Police Officer involved in rescue.
The other officer, Christopher Davis, said it was a fulfilling moment.
"That's why I have this job," Davis said. "To help people and save lives."
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The cause of the fire remains under investigation
