Streator family’s close call in fire ends with successful rescue

A house fire earlier this month in Streator led to the rescue of two residents trapped in a bedroom on the second floor.

Streator Fire Capt. Bryan Park, who was on duty that day, said the call came in just after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 43 Stanton Place.

After hearing the address, Park recognized it as the street of a family he knows personally.

“When the call came in and I saw the address, I thought there was a chance it might’ve been their house,” Park said. “The dispatch center communicated to us there was a house fire and two people were trapped in a bedroom upstairs.”

By the time firefighters arrived, flames already had spread to the rear of the house and smoke was pouring out of second-story windows.

After investigating, firefighters realized that two residents were trapped in their bedroom, unable to escape because of the smoke and flames on the second floor coming from the kitchen area.

“I recognized them immediately when I saw their heads poking out the window,” Park said. “I was glad to see they were all right, but we knew we had to move quickly and get the rescue to the back side of the house.”

Park called for a “vent, enter, search” operation, a high-risk maneuver that involves firefighters entering the house without the protection of a hose line. He noted that it’s not a drastic measure but a tactic only used when lives are on the line.

“We pulled a ladder to the back of the house,” Park said. “We told them to sit on the roof for fresh air, then we were able to help them down safely.”

After they climbed down, the residents were immediately checked for injuries and smoke inhalation. Luckily, neither had any serious injuries.

They were taken to an ambulance as a precaution but were soon cleared.

Park said the fire was particularly emotional because he knew the victims personally.

“There was definitely a lot of emotion for me, especially because I’ve known that family for years, if not decades,” he said. “In a situation like that, there’s always adrenaline. But knowing the people in the house made it especially personal.”

The fire department believes the victims' safety was because of a closed door, which helped prevent the fire from reaching them before they were rescued.

“I honestly believe the door might’ve saved their lives,” Park said. “I’ve seen how important a closed door can be in a house fire, especially if the people inside are asleep or unaware.”

Firefighters were able to control the blaze within 30 minutes of arriving at the scene. The crew quickly extinguished the flames in the kitchen, preventing further spread to the rest of the house.

The home had heavy smoke damage and significant fire damage to the kitchen, but the quick response kept the damage to a minimum. Three of the residents' dogs were found dead as a result of the fire.

The family made a statement about the incident, making sure to publicly thank the fire department.

“Words cannot fully express our gratitude for your courage, compassion and unwavering dedication. When disaster struck, you were there without hesitation, putting your own safety aside to ensure ours. You not only saved my husband and me, but you also fought tirelessly to protect our beloved pets, doing everything possible in an impossible situation.

“Though we’ve lost everything we owned, including our four-legged family members, we are forever grateful for the lives that you preserved so that my children were able to hug us goodnight. You gave us a second chance, and that is something we will never take for granted. Your selflessness and commitment are a reminder of the extraordinary people who serve our communities, and we are beyond thankful for each and every one of you.

“You gave us hope when all seemed lost. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

The family recently took the time to thank the fire department by stopping by the firehouse and bringing food for the firefighters on shift.

“It meant the world to us,” Park said about the family’s visit. “That family had just lost most of what they owned, but they still took the time to buy food and bring it to us to show their appreciation. After everything they’d been through, you’d think they’d be focused on their own recovery, but for them to come down with their kids to meet us, it was just a really special moment.”