From Bill Kaempffer, city fire spokesman:
The fire department responded to a major structure fire at 181 Poplar St. Wednesday evening. The two-alarm fire caused very heavy damage to the 3,500-square-foot multi-family house.
Firefighters arriving at the scene encountered the first two floors of the front of the house fully involved in fire. Initially, firefighters were told that there could be people trapped in the house and conducted an interior search and rescue effort. The occupants of the house, however, all appear to have fled the house before firefighters arrived.
Firefighters also had to contend with down electrical wires that were energized.
According to police, a passerby noticed the fire and banged on the door and alerted residents. Police who were on the street on an unrelated call ran up the street attempted to enter the house from the rear but were pushed back by smoke. Other officers also alerted residents of the house next door.
Several police officers were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. As of 9 p.m., all but two had been discharged.
No serious injuries were reported from occupants of the house. Officials were still working on determining how many people were displaced. Family members said everyone was accounted for.
Firefighters also did an outstanding job working to prevent the fire from spreading to a neighboring house, on which some siding melted. It did not appear to have more significant damage.
The fire remains under investigation. No cause has been determined and the Fire Marshal’s office is on scene.
