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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Chicago subway fire injures 19

Investigators trying to determine cause

 Emergency personnel tend to patients  after a fire in the Red Line subway on Sunday in Chicago.  (Associated Press)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

CHICAGO – A fire in a Chicago subway injured 19 people Sunday and sent black smoke billowing from grates along city streets.

The Chicago Transit Authority said heavy smoke was reported around 5 p.m. Sunday along the Red Line tracks just north of downtown.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Richard Rosado said 19 people were taken to hospitals, most with respiratory complaints, though none suffered life-threatening injuries.

He said five people were transported in serious to critical condition, three were in fair to serious and 11 had minor injuries.

Transit spokeswoman Catherine Hosinski said the fire was quickly extinguished and that investigators are trying to determine what started the blaze.

Rosado said as many as 100 rescue workers responded.