DELAVAN — Two police officers were temporarily trapped inside an apartment building while rescuing residents from a fire Thursday evening in Delavan.
All residents of the building currently are displaced, and several people were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries.
The incident began when the Delavan Fire Department was called out shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday to an apartment fire at 207 McDowell St.
When firefighters arrived, they found two of the 38-unit apartments were heavily involved.
Delavan Police and Walworth County Sheriff Deputies immediately started evacuations of the 30 residents of the building.
Initial fire and law enforcement experienced heavy smoke conditions shortly after conducting the initial evacuations.
About ten minutes into the incident, authorities say two law enforcement officers became temporarily trapped on upper floors while performing rescues.
Delavan fire crews immediately raised a ground ladder to the third floor to assist, however the officers managed to make their way out of the building.
Fire crews were able to control the fire in about fifteen minutes, but heavy smoke remained throughout the complex.
Two police officers, two firefighters and two residents were treated by EMS personnel on the scene.
Three were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.
Twenty-four residents were temporally sheltering at the Baymont Inn in Delavan.
All residents have been displaced until further notice.
The American Red Cross is providing food and shelter.
Five ambulances, nine fire departments and Mercy MD-1 responded to the fire. Fire crews were on scene about four hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
