(IFD photo)

A south side mother lowered her two boys to the ground from a second story window Monday to save them from a fire.

The fire started about 3:00 a.m. at Berkley Commons Apartments, near Stop 11 and Madison.

IFD Captain Rita Burris said the mom, two boys, the dad and two girls made it outside, but some members of the family were choking after breathing in too much smoke.

Burris said the dad hurt his back when he fell down the staircase while carrying the young boys to safety.

The kids range in age from three to seven.

Investigators are working to pinpoint the cause of the fire.