Photographed by: Jason Garrison
Seven firefighters burned or injured battling Wednesday night's blaze in Indian Hill are being treated at University Hospital.
The fire broke out just before 7 p.m. at 9550 Cunningham Road, on the site of the former Kroger family estate.
The fire spread quickly and escalated to a three-alarm fire, drawing units from surrounding communities as well as the Madeira-Indian Hill fire department.
Four fire fighters were initially brought there with burns ranging from first through third degree.
Another firefighter was admitted with breathing problems.
A few hours later Dr. Stewart Wright, MD, told reporters gathered outside the hospital that the firefighters were, "conscious and alert."
Dr. Wright explained that the firefighters were well-treated by paramedics at the scene of the fire and were given morphine for the pain.
In the emergency room medical teams first checked the breathing of their patients and then checked for any injuries caused by trauma. They found none.
Dr. Wright spoke with some of the firefighters who were on the second floor of the house.
"They sensed that a 'flashover' was coming, so they all dove for the floor and this fire ball went through the house and they all exited by various means out the windows, doors, et cetera," said Wright.
"They all were burned in the initial flash, though none of them suffered any blast injuries that we can tell," the doctor added.
Family and friends gathered at the hospital as soon as they could.
Also at the hospital were members of the Cincinnati fire department and other agencies who brought water and tried to help however they could.
Officials withheld the names of the firefighters pending notification of additional family members.
The first firefighter could be released as early as Thursday.
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