7 hospitalized after reported explosion, condo fire in Des Plaines

7 hospitalized after reported explosion, condo fire in Des Plaines

Seven people were hospitalized after a reported explosion and condo fire early Wednesday morning in Chicago's northwest suburbs.

DES PLAINES, Ill. - A large fire at a condo building in Chicago's northwest suburbs early Wednesday morning sent seven people to the hospital and kept crews on scene for hours.

What we know:

Firefighters were called around 1 a.m. to the 1200 block of Harding Street, near Graceland Avenue, in Des Plaines after reports of an explosion.

When crews arrived, they found heavy fire across all levels of a three-story condominium building. They rescued multiple people from balconies using ground ladders, fire officials said.

Seven people were taken to hospitals, with three in critical condition and four stable. 

Officials say six people were transported to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and one transported to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. 

Seven others were treated at the scene and released.

The fire was brought under control around 5:30 a.m.

The incident caused significant damage to the building, and it's been deemed uninhabitable.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear what caused the explosion that sparked the fire.