Resident Hurt After Jumping From Burning Building In Glen Ellyn

GLEN ELLYN, IL — A resident sustained injuries after they jumped from a balcony to escape a fire in a multi-unit building in Glen Ellyn Thursday morning. Firefighters used a ladder to help other occupants escape the blaze, which left a total of 20 residents displaced from their homes.

Residents and police officers were treated at the scene of the fire for smoke inhalation.

The fire broke out just after 9 a.m. in the 700 block of Pershing Avenue. When firefighters got to the scene, they found "active fire" in the back of the building, per a news release. Six residents from the building had evacuated themselves.

Flames from the first floor of the blaze that were venting upward had trapped residents on the balcony of the building's second floor, according to fire officials. With the help of a fire ladder, the trapped residents made it off the balcony. The resident who jumped was injured, but their condition was not shared as of Friday afternoon.

Firefighters also rescued "several pets" from the blaze, per the news release.

The fire started in the ceiling of a bedroom closet in a unit on the building's first floor, officials said. The unit was damaged by fire and nearby units were damaged by smoke and heat. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

“This incident is a powerful reminder of how fortunate we are to have such dedicated first responders in our community,” Village President Jim Burket said in a statement.

Burket added, “The Glen Ellyn Police Department and Volunteer Fire Company worked together to protect lives, and we are grateful for their courage, skill, and professionalism.”