7 injured in Joliet apartment building fire; young family rescued from balcony: officials

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- Seven people were injured in a Joliet apartment building fire Tuesday morning, fire officials said.

Joliet fire crews responded to the 100-block of North Essington Road just after 8:15 a.m. for a report of an apartment fire with trapped residents.

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Joliet fire Battalion Chief Dan Berta was the first to respond, after a nearby crash on Interstate 80.

Berta found a young mother, father and 3-year-old were trapped on a third-story balcony.

A maintenance worker nearby got an extension ladder from a nearby shed, in an effort to help rescue the family.

"When I see three people on the balcony, I go right away for the ladder," worker Javier Macias said.

The father, who was hanging from the balcony, fell to the ground.

Berta climbed the ladder and rescued the 3-year-old and then the mother, Joliet fire officials said.

"Very fortunate, you know, the maintenance here was quick to see what was going on, got a ladder going here. And then, with our battalion chief being so close here, I mean, it got him down quick and saved a disaster," Joliet fire Battalion Chief Jim Batusich said.

A police officer also helped in the rescue.

"I feel great. You know, everybody is safe, the people, and the baby," Macias said.

When other firefighters arrived, they saw heavy fire coming from an upper unit of the three-story building.

Fire officials said there was heavy fire in the building's attic.

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Seven residents were treated on the scene for minor injuries, fire officials said.

Joliet fire says 39 people lived in the building in 11 units. About 15 people were home at the time of the fire.

"It was just like, immediately panic. Run outside and just saw fire coming through the window. And it was just insane," resident McKenna Kloss said. "Seeing that moment was just scary."

Images and videos from witnesses show firefighters on the edge of the roof, soaking the flames in an effort to keep them from spreading.

The fire was under control after 9:20 a.m.

Once it was out, fire crews spent time returning priceless items, including photo albums and jewelry to the people who lived there.

"We found out that there was like 2 feet of water, and everything is submerged. And it's just water damage, smoke damage; everything is gone," Kloss said.

The Joliet Office of Emergency and Disaster Management and the Red Cross are coordinating the relocation of displaced residents.

"We plan to just stay with family right now, and just go day by day, figure out what we can do next," Katelin Tidaback said.

Chopper 7 was over the scene, and flames could be seen shooting from the building's roof. There appeared to be severe damage to the building.

Dozens of firefighters responded to the scene.

Roadways in the area reopened after several hours.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The maintenance worker said the fire appears to have started in the kitchen area of a second-floor unit.