Joliet, IL – A Joliet family was trapped on a third-story balcony Tuesday morning after a fire erupted in their apartment complex on Essington Road.
According to the Joliet Fire Department, the call came in at 8:17 a.m. for a fire with residents trapped at 115 Essington Road. Battalion Chief Dan Berta, returning from a separate call, was first to arrive and found a mother, father, and 3-year-old child trapped above the flames. While assisting with rescue efforts, the father fell from the balcony while trying to escape. Chief Berta then rescued the child and mother using a ladder. All three declined further medical treatment after being evaluated at the scene.
Fire crews arriving shortly after found flames extending from an upper apartment unit into the attic space. Firefighters launched an aggressive interior attack and knocked down the main fire before re-entering to eliminate hotspots and perform a secondary search.
Roughly 15 people were in the building at the time. While most self-evacuated, seven residents were treated for minor injuries on site.
The blaze was declared under control by 9:23 a.m., with firefighters remaining on scene until 11:45 a.m. No firefighter injuries were reported.
Approximately 40 personnel from Joliet Stations 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 responded, along with support from Joliet’s Office of Emergency Management, Will County Emergency Management, and the Red Cross, which assisted displaced residents.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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