Lakewood Police were there in seconds and started to get people out of the building. A woman had punched out the window in the hallway in an effort to get out and/or get air. And cut one of her arteries and started to bleed out. She was helped by Lakewood Police who applied a tourniquet and slowed the bleeding.
Within a minute or two Lakewood Fire Department arrived and went into the building to clear out and find people that might not be able to get out. In the flames and smoke at the early morning hour, the apartments were cleared quickly with 8 people going to the hospital. Four were sent to Fairview Hospital for smoke inhalation, and four were sent to Metro General Hospital for both smoke inhalation and other problems. All were treated and released with the exception of the woman with the cut arm who was held and at last check was still in the ICU Unit at Metro.
As of 2:00pm Lakewood Fire Department was still on the scene, and Fire Investigators were going through what was left of the apartment to locate the cause of the fire.
Great work Lakewood Police and Fire Departments!
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