Fresno firefighters rescued an elderly woman from a burning home Sunday evening after multiple reports of a house fire on the 500 block of N. Fulton Street, the Fresno Fire Department said in a statement.

Fire crews responded shortly after 5 p.m. and saw a large column of black smoke while en route. Fresno police officers, who arrived first, immediately searched the residence for occupants, fire officials said.

Firefighters found heavy flames coming from the front of the two-story home and called for a second alarm, bringing additional crews to the scene.

The elderly woman was rescued from the second floor and transported to a local hospital, where she remains in critical condition, officials said. A second resident escaped before first responders arrived.

One firefighter sustained a minor burn, and a police officer was treated for smoke inhalation at a hospital. The home suffered significant damage, but neighboring residences were protected.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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