CINCINNATI — Nine people are in the hospital after a condo complex fire in College Hill.
Crews got the call around 1:10 a.m. Tuesday for a fire alarm activation at the Hammond North Condominiums on Hamilton Avenue. When they arrived, they saw heavy flames coming from a few units on the first floor.
Fire officials said this was a 3-alarm fire and additional crews were called to the scene to assist. According to a press release, more than 100 firefighters responded to the scene.
Firefighters were able to quickly get the fire under control. Investigators said among the nine people injured were two firefighters. At least one person has serious injuries, according to a fire official on the scene. Fire officials said that everyone in the hospital is expected to be okay.
Most people waited in their units while firefighters battled the flames, investigators said.
"Most of them were able to shelter in place on upper floors, that means they were on their balconies and (had) fresh air," CFD Assistant Chief Matthew Flagler said.
Investigators said three units were involved in the fire and that five or six units were damaged.
Hamilton Ave update: the fire is now out, and we are working to remove smoke from this very large bldg. We have transported 7 civilians to the hospital from the fire. 2 FF’s also received minor injuries. We will be on scene for some time yet. pic.twitter.com/pbKIuhQe2j
— Cincy Fire & EMS (@CincyFireEMS) February 21, 2023
According to Flagler, Metro buses were used to shelter those displaced by the fire.
"We do not have a firm number of displaced people yet because we're making a good assessment of the whole building," Flagler said.
The Cincinnati Fire Department estimated the damage to be $1 million.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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