SCRANTON, Pa. — Crews spent the morning battling smoke and flames at the West Side Hotel on South Main Street in Scranton. The fire started shortly after 2am.

"Our crews rescued 5-6 people over ladders and helped get some people out from inside. We continued to search the inside but the fire was pretty progressed," Scranton Fire Chief John Judge said.

Officials believe more than two dozen people lived at the West Side Hotel, which was turned into apartments. Scranton Fire Chief John Judge says five residents and one firefighter were hurt in the fire and he is unsure of the extent of those injuries. The chief believes around two dozen people got out of the building, including Mark Turner.

"Fortunately a fireman came up and I guess he kinda saved my life. I guess you can pass out fro

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