Officers rescue five people from burning home in Lynn

LYNN, Mass. -- Seven people, including three police officers rushing in to rescue residents, have been injured in a two-alarm house fire in Lynn.

A fire department official said the officers, who were on routine patrol, were the first to the scene of the blaze on Clinton Street at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

They rushed in without air masks or protective gear to get the residents out of the home.

"You take a deep breath, you get in as far as you can, when you start to run out, you get out as fast as you can," said Officer Tom Hazard, of the Lynn Police Department.

Lt. David Legere said the officers, as well as four of the single-family home's seven residents, suffered from smoke inhalation and required hospitalization.

One resident, a 57-year-old man, was trapped under debris and was taken to a Boston hospital in serious condition. The others are not thought to have life-threatening injuries.

Three other victims were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

The state Fire Marshal is investigating but there was no immediate word on the cause.

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