Aurora, Illinois:

Structure Fire – Citizen Alerts Occupants

On May 7, 2022, at 7:53 a.m., the Aurora Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 100 block
of N. Highland Avenue with reports of people trapped on the 2nd – floor. Aurora Central Dispatch received
a 911 call from a bystander who saw the fire. The alarm was upgraded to the 2nd Level bringing a total of
24 firefighters to the scene.

Bystander (#1) was at the corner of Highland Avenue and Galena Boulevard taking his kids to a baseball
game when he saw smoke coming from the house. He quickly parked and started knocking on the door,
alerting one adult female occupant on the 1st-floor. Another bystander (#2) also stopped to help.
After alerting the first occupant, bystander (#2) went upstairs to notify the other two occupants. He
encountered smoke but was able to get the attention of an adult male who was in a back bedroom. The
adult male occupant and bystander (#2) then went to another bedroom where they thought another
occupant was. When they opened the bedroom door, they encountered heavy smoke and could not go
further.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a 1 1⁄2 – story single-family home with fire showing from a front window
of the attic area. Firefighters from the Engine Companies deployed hose lines to extinguish the fire and
established a water supply from a fire hydrant while the Truck Company performed a search for victims.
No victims were found during the search. All residents escaped, including their dog, while the reported
victim, who was thought to be in the other bedroom, was not at home when the fire occurred.
After he helped the two victims, bystander (#2) took his kids to their baseball game. A short time later,
he returned home and had minor trouble breathing. A Medic Unit was dispatched to his home, where
paramedics conducted an assessment and treated him; however, he did not want to be transported to the
hospital, so he signed a refusal.

The home was deemed uninhabitable, displacing one 25-year-old female, a 32-year-old male, and a 39-
year-old male. There were no injuries to firefighters, and the fire is under investigation.

Credit: Aurora FD