1 dead, dozens displaced after apartment complex fire in Woodstock, Illinois
CHICAGO (CBS) — A fire at an apartment complex in Woodstock, Illinois left one dead and displaced dozens of residents Tuesday night.
The fire broke out at the two-story building in the 700 block of St. John's Road around 10:15 p.m.
Officials said the quick-spreading fire caused significant damage to 12 units in the building. Firefighters battling the fire requested additional units as it was upgraded to a fifth alarm.
Crews spent nearly two hours battling the flames.
One man suffered life-threatening injuries in the fire. Fire officials said he was taken to a local hospital where he died. His name has not yet been released.
One woman recalled how she nearly had to jump from her balcony, because the fire was spreading. Jaicia Walden felt pure fear as she contemplated what she should do.
"I was thinking I'm really going to have to jump and possibly break bones," she said.
She waited a minute, and then firefighters rescued her from her balcony.
Walden later recorded video showing flames shooting through the roof of the building that she once called home.
"It's crazy how fast it escalated with the smoke. That's what took me by surprise, because when I first opened (the door), I didn't think it could get smokier than it was, but then when the police officer told me to go knock on my neighbor's doors, I went back. Just 30 seconds, that's all it took, and it was just pure black," she said.
The American Red Cross is working to assist nearly 30 residents displaced by the fire. There is a shelter set up for residents at the St. John Lutheran Church.
A witness told CBS News Chicago she saw apartments fully engulfed in flames as residents tried to evacuate, along with dogs and cats.
"A lot of people just lost everything," neighbor Cassandra Janis said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage to the building has been estimated at $1.5 million.
