4 Hurt, Several Families Displaced in 2 Fires

A pair of house fires that broke out within blocks of each other Tuesday morning left three firefighters and a resident injured and destroyed a house shared by eight families, authorities reported.

Moved by the number of people displaced by the fires -- 15 adults and an unknown number of children in one house alone -- neighbors canvassed the community for food, clothing and cash for the victims.

The first fire started in a rental home on McFadden Avenue about 7:45 a.m. Just as it was brought under control, a fire broke out four blocks away on Broadway. Authorities said the fires were not related.