CHICAGO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua)-- At least one person died and several others were injured in an apartment fire in eastern Chicago around Thursday noon, Chicago Fire Department officials said.

    The fire began at about 12:15 p.m. in a five-story building in the East Rogers Park neighborhood, said Chicago Fire Department Spokesman Quention Curtis.

    Eight ambulances were sent to the site. One person was dead at the scene. A fire official said that two people were taken from the rear of the building in serious-to-critical conditions to a local hospital and a firefighter in fair condition also was hospitalized.

    Curtis said firefighters set up ladders against the building to evacuate people from upper floors. By about 12:45 p.m. the fire appeared to be struck out, but some units on the top floor could still be seen smoldering.