2 hospitalized, firefighters deal with challenges while battling Springfield house fire

SPRINGFIELD — Two people were taken to the hospital after firefighters responded to a house fire in Springfield early Monday morning.

>>PHOTOS: Firefighters respond to house fire in Springfield

Springfield firefighters and police officers were dispatched around 3:37 a.m. to the 800 block of Linden Avenue on initial reports of a structure fire.

News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson provided updates on the fire during News Center 7′s Daybreak.

Dan Faust, Battalion Chief of Springfield Fire Rescue, told her that the house was full of flames when firefighters arrived at the scene.

“On arrival, we had about 80% of the first floor on fire and reported that all occupants were out,” he said. “Our medic unit on scene evaluated two occupants and they determined that they may have smoke inhalation and transported them to the hospital.”

>>Winter Weather Advisory for entire region tonight; Freezing rain possible into tomorrow morning

Faust said the stairs on the interior of the house were burned and firefighters could not reach the second floor.

He added that they also had to deal with a frozen hydrant at the scene.

“When it gets cold, sometimes that happens,” said Faust. “The initial hydrant was about 100 feet away from our pumping apparatus and that hydrant was frozen. We had to move to Plan B to a hydrant that was 300 feet away.”

He also said they had to deal with high trees near the home. They had to cut down the trees so they could battle the fire.

It slowed them down initially, but they were able to knock down the fire.

Firefighters remain on the scene to make sure there are no more hotspots.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

-INITIAL STORY-

Firefighters have responded to a house fire in Springfield early Monday morning.

>>PHOTOS: Firefighters respond to house fire in Springfield

Springfield firefighters and police officers were dispatched around 3:37 a.m. to the 800 block of Linden Avenue on initial reports of a structure fire.

News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson is at the scene and providing updates LIVE on News Center 7′s Daybreak.

She is seeing smoke pouring from the roof of that two-story home and at least three different fire trucks at the scene.

Police officers have also blocked off the area while firefighters working the fire.

We will continue to provide updates on this breaking story.

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