A tragic blaze engulfed a Woodstock apartment complex late Tuesday night, leading to the death of one man and injuries to two others, as well as uprooting over 30 residents from their homes, according to the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.
The fire was reported around 10:13 p.m. at the structure located on the 700 block of St. John’s Road. Firefighting teams faced a challenging scene with heavy flames visible from the two-story complex upon arrival. The intense inferno had surged into the attic, wreaking havoc across 12 of the 24 apartment units. As a result of an intense struggle against the cataclysm, the fire was not declared under control until around midnight,
ABC 7 Chicago
reported.
Casualties of the conflagration included a man in a wheelchair, who despite being rescued from the first-floor hallway amid oppressive, blinding smoke, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. In addition to the fatality, two more individuals were hospitalized, and a woman along with a baby were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Neighbors bore witness to the distressing events, with one, Cassandra Janis, recounting the alarm to
NBC 5
‘s Lisa Chavarria, “The smoke was super thick, there was dogs they were trying to get out and cats,” Janis said. “I know that a lot of people just lost everything.
In the aftermath of the devastation, displaced residents sought temporary refuge at St. John’s Lutheran Church, with assistance from the Red Cross. The community rallied in support, yet the toll of the disaster was palpable as neighbors pondered the loss. “I know this side of the building there might be some stuff salvageable, but it’s just devastating that this is happening,” Janis told
NBC 5 Chicago
. Ongoing investigations by the Woodstock Fire District, Woodstock Police Department, and the State Fire Marshall are underway to determine an origin and cause of the fire.
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