Community Rallies To Support Family Displaced By Orland Park Fire

ORLAND PARK, IL — Multiple Orland Park families are attempting to get back on their feet after a fire at an apartment building Sunday displaced almost 16 residents, fire officials said.

At around 7 a.m. Sunday morning, tenant Jessica Arroyo said she awoke to the sound of smoke detectors. That wasn't unusual in the building, she told Patch, where smoke detectors in the hallways were sensitive. As she closed her eyes to settle back to sleep, she smelled smoke.

Arroyo woke up her husband who ran into their kitchen which had already filled with a smoky haze.

"Everything happened so fast," she said. "My husband got dressed and ran downstairs to see where the smoke was coming from. He opened the basement door and a huge cloud of black smoke and flames shot out at him. That's when he came back upstairs and said, 'Get the kids, we've got to go.'"

Orland Fire Protection District officials responded to the fire Sunday morning. While firefighters were able to save the building at 14421 South Ravinia Avenue, smoke had already spread throughout the four units. No one was injured.

Arroyo was able to go into the building a few hours later but by then her family's storage unit, clothes and furniture were damaged by water and smoke. Family photos, keepsakes and stockpiles of hand-me-downs from when the family moved to the apartment nearly six years ago were gone.

Arroyo said her mother started a GoFundMe page the next day to aid in her family's relocation. Within 24 hours, the page surpassed its original goal of $2,000 with countless physical donations from community members as well.

"I don't even know how to explain how I feel," said the mother of three kids — ages 2, 4 and 9. "When I can afford to pay it forward I'm definitely going to do so."

The building's owner set the family up in a hotel immediately following the fire, but told the Arroyo's they could only stay until Sunday. When Patch reached out for an estimation on how long it would be before tenants could move back into the building, the owner said insurance and repairs would likely take six months to a year.

As part of the community turnout, Arroyo said her children's teachers and classmates have shown up for the family in the biggest way. On Tuesday, a District 135 teacher and counselor dropped off over 20 bags of clothes, toys, games and snacks.

"I'm pretty sure my 2 - and 4-year-old think it's Christmas," she said. "But I do think the entire situation left them traumatized."

Arroyo's 9-year-old daughter has struggled with the loss of her piggy bank full of savings and her very own room which she had just re-decorated the night before the fire. Her 4-year-old son, who is on the autism spectrum, is lacking the familiarity and comfort he had in the only home he'd ever lived in. The 2-year-old has become clingy, nervous to leave his parents' side, Arroyo said.

Through it all, however, Arroyo told Patch she is trying to stay positive and strong for her family. The group planned on moving to a larger apartment once they were financially able to, the fire sped up the already difficult process for a one-income household.

As of Thursday, the Arroyo family GoFundMe had raised $3,285. With the furniture, clothing and toy donations, Arroyo said the family plans to put the money from the fund towards finding a new apartment. Come Sunday, the five will have to leave the hotel and stay with Arroyo's mother until they can find a new home.

"What would really be appreciated now is if people could provide phone numbers to landlords or apartment connections," Arroyo said. "The donations are appreciated beyond words but at this point, we need somewhere to go."

Arroyo and her husband told Patch they will need to expand their budget in order to stay within the confines of District 135. Along with providing stable care for her autistic son, Arroyo said she couldn't imagine making her children change schools after losing their home.

Other tenants in the building have also started GoFundMe campaigns in search of donations and permanent housing.

"I've never seen so many people immediately jump to help someone in a bad situation," Arroyo said. "It's so beautiful what this community has done for us. We're truly blessed."

Visit the Arroyo's fundraiser here.