Several Detroit Firefighters Hurt In Fire, Building Collapse: Reports

DETROIT — A fire ripped through a vacant building in Detroit on Thursday afternoon and several firefighters were taken to a hospital, according to reports.

The blaze ignited in a building around 1:30 p.m. on Hollywood Avenue, near 7 Mile Road, on the city's East Side. Two firefighters went down, the burning building collapsed and crews had to rescue them, James Harris, the city fire chief, told the TV station.

"These two firefighters are tough firefighters," he said. "And they were doing their job."

Harris asked the public to stay away from the scene.

A firefighter trapped in the rubble of the building had to be rescued, fire officials said.

“He’s conscious, he’s talking to us,” Harris said of the second firefighter who was rescued. “We’re in the process of getting him out and getting him transported to the hospital.”

Detroit Fire Commissioner Charles Simms told Fox 2 one firefighter suffered a broken finger and a second was hospitalized as a precaution, but didn't seem to have serious injuries. A third was trapped until around 3 p.m. and had to be taken away in an ambulance.

Harris told the WJW station at least seven firefighters were taken to hospitals. Their conditions weren't immediately known.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Video taken at the scene showed firefighters dousing the charred rubble with water.