Dangling From Balcony Railing, Man Falls To Ground At Twin Oaks Apartment Blaze In Joliet

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Fire Department issued another press release concerning Tuesday's largest fire of the year, the one that destroyed an entire three-story building at the Twin Oaks apartments.

Here's a recap of Tuesday's key findings:

When Did It Happen?

At 8:17 a.m. the Joliet Fire Department responded to 115 Essington Road for a report of an apartment fire with residents trapped. Battalion Chief Dan Berta was returning from a motor vehicle wreck on I-80 and he was the first unit on the scene and advised incoming units that three people—a mother, father and a 3-year-old child—were trapped on a third-story balcony.

How Did The Injuries Happen?

A maintenance worker retrieved an extension ladder from a nearby shed. The maintenance worker and Chief Berta laddered the third-floor balcony together. As they were positioning the ladder, the man already hanging from the balcony, trying to lower himself to the second-floor balcony by holding onto the railing, lost his grip and fell to the ground.

What Happened Next?

Battalion Chief Berta instructed the mother to remain where she was. He then climbed the ladder, rescued the 3-year-old child, and brought the child safely to the ground. He returned up the ladder, helped the mother over the railing, and assisted her down. All three people were evaluated at the scene and refused further medical treatment.

What Was Joliet Fire Department's Strategy?

Firefighters found heavy fire coming from an upper unit of the three-story garden apartment building. Fire crews encountered heavy fire in the attic. After completing the primary search, interior crews were withdrawn, and operations transitioned to a defensive strategy. Once the heavy attic fire was knocked down using master streams, crews re-entered the structure to extinguish remaining hot spots and perform a secondary search.

How Many Tenants Were Inside During The Fire?

Approximately 15 people were in the structure at the time of the fire. Everyone else evacuated safely on their own. Seven residents were treated at the scene for minor injuries. All residents have been accounted for.

How Many People Are Displaced?

The building contained 12 residential units, housing a total of 39 people. The fire was under control at 9:23 a.m. There were no injuries to firefighters. Fire crews remained on scene until 11:45 a.m.

Firefighters from Joliet Fire Stations 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 responded, totaling 40 personnel. The Joliet Office of Emergency and Disaster Management was on scene, along with Will County Emergency Management. They coordinated the relocation of displaced residents with assistance from the Red Cross. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.