Two injured in Elmhurst house fire

An Elmhurst couple was taken to an area hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation after an early Thursday morning furnace fire in their home.

Firefighters were dispatched at 4:41 a.m. and arrived minutes later to find smoke coming from the two-story house at 964 South Kent Ave. The furnace had caught fire in the basement of the home, authorities said. The fire was extinguished within 10 minutes.

A working smoke detector woke the couple. The husband was able to get out of the house on his own. Firefighters used a wheelchair to get the wife out.

The two were transported to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Their injuries are believed to be non-life threatening, Battalion Chief Don Novak said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

While the fire was contained to the furnace area, there was smoke damage throughout the house. Officials estimated damage at roughly $5,000.