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Firefighters rescued three people who were trapped on the third floor of a burning apartment building in Joliet Sunday evening during a blaze that sent four residents to a hospital.
The fire erupted about 5:40 p.m. on the second floor of a 3-story, 12-unit apartment building at 120 Twin Oaks Dr., according to Joliet Fire Capt. Bob Wohlrab.
"The call came in as a kitchen fire,'' said Joliet Fire Battalion Chief Mike Stromberg. "Crews pulled up and found people hanging out windows on the third floor and heavy smoke.''
Ground ladders were erected against the building and firefighters assisted three people down to safety.
"Flames spread past the kitchen and into the mansard roof, by lapping outside the building,'' Stromberg said. Two top level apartments were also burned.
The situation was made even more tense because a woman indicated her two children or grandchildren were unaccounted for. Additional crews were brought to the scene but they later learned the kids exited out a back window and were unharmed. Four residents were hurt and taken in unidentified conditions to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, according to Wohlrab.
While the four adults hurt suffered smoke inhalation, their conditions are not considered life threatening, Stromberg said.
It was not immediately known if any of them were among those rescued.
Foul play is not suspected and authorities believe the fire started while occupants were cooking something in the kitchen. Residents from that apartment were able to escape on their own.
Crews began leaving the scene about 7:30 p.m. and Wohlrab said the building sustained "significant" damage.
The American Red Cross helped 15 to 18 displaced residents find somewhere to stay.
