Three dead in Granite City fire, others leap from second-floor flames

Three people died in an apartment fire in Granite City Thursday afternoon.

Firefighters arrived at the scene in the 2400 block of East 23rd Street at about 12:45 p.m. By the time they arrived, occupants of the building were jumping from second floor windows to escape the smoke and flames, according to multiple media reports.

At least 15 people escaped the seven-unit building, Fox2 reported. None of them are in critical condition but three of them are being treated at the hospital, the TV station said.

Granite City Fire Chief Rich Wilson told KSDK that 18 people were in the building at the time of the fire.

The Illinois State Fire Marshal is investigation the fire. The identities of those who died have not been released pending notification of family.