Homeowner Shuts Door On Joliet Firefighter, Insisting House Is Not On Fire

JOLIET, IL — Seven hours after the Joliet Fire Department responded to the largest industrial fire in Joliet so far this year, at the Rovanco Piping Systems company, an off-duty Joliet firefighter spotted his neighbor's attic on fire, but the homeowner slammed the door in the firefighter's face, refusing to believe him, according to a Joliet Fire Department news release.

Battalion Chief Jim Batusich said that at 12:06 p.m., the Joliet Fire Department responded to the 6200 block of Ventura Drive, in the Brookside Neighborhood, for reports of a structure fire.

Off-duty Joliet Fire Department firefighter Mark Troha was mowing his lawn when he noticed smoke coming from the Ventura Drive home. Troha ran across the street to check the rear of the structure, thinking it was possibly smoke from a grill.

Troha noticed no one was outside and started to bang on the doors to alert occupants their house was on fire. All four people in the home were sleeping at the time, officials said.

One person heard the banging on the door and went downstairs to open the door, and Troha told them their house was on fire.

According to Batusich, the homeowner insisted, “my house is not on fire” and shut the door on him. This prompted Troha to keep banging on the door and yelling, "I’m a Joliet Firefighter and there is a fire in the attic, and everyone needs to get out."

Eventually, the three other people heard the commotion and woke up. Everyone left the home. The first Joliet Fire Department units arrived within two minutes of the call and were met with smoke coming from the eaves and roof of the second floor of the structure.

Crews entered the structure to find the fire in a walk-in closet. The fire was contained in the room of origin. The structure suffered fire, smoke and water damage. Crews were on the scene for approximately one hour.

Fire crews from stations 6,7,8,9, and 10 responded to the scene. There were no injuries to report. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Batusich noted.