Hampshire woman seriously injured in fire

A beloved former American Legion worker is battling serious injuries after firefighters rescued her from a blaze that tore through her Hampshire apartment late Friday night.

Two firefighters were hospitalized, one for injuries from a fall and another suffering from smoke inhalation in the fire that started on the second story above offices belonging to the Fenzel Motor Sales dealership.

Both men were “doing OK,” Hampshire Fire Lt. John DePaux said Saturday. He added the firefighter hurt in the fall had already left St. Joseph's Hospital in Elgin while a second suffering from smoke inhalation was expected to be released later Saturday.

Emergency crews arrived shortly after a 10:17 p.m. call and extinguished the fire at 206 S. State Street in about 45 minutes.

“It's terrible,” said John Fenzel, owner of the dealership, crediting firefighters for quick work.

“Those guys were real pros ... they saved her. They went in there with a hook and ladder, they did a great, great job. All we can do now is pray for her; the bricks and mortar can be replaced.”

The woman living in the apartment was rushed to Presence St. Joseph's Hospital in Elgin and was then taken by helicopter to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, officials said. She was in critical condition Saturday night, a Loyola spokeswoman said.

Friends identified the woman as Georgia Hartman, a retired manager at American Legion Post No. 57 in Elgin.

“She's very outgoing, very pleasant to work with,” said legion member Barbara Sleeman. “She always had a smile on her face.”

“May God hold her in His loving arms and heal her,” one person wrote on Hartman's Facebook page.

“She is a great lady,” another friend added.

Officials had no damage estimate to the two-story, wood-frame and masonry structure, but DePauw said there was “significant fire and water damage to the apartment and some to the business below.”

Firefighters were still investigating the cause and where the fire started.

The fire occurred across the street from the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealership's main showroom, which was open Saturday.

Fenzel said the fire could have been much worse, given the dealership's parts and service departments were part of the complex that caught on fire.

The apartment was a large one with eight rooms. Fenzel said his family moved there in the 1940s and he grew up there, later renting it out.