Woodstock fire injures resident and firefighter, leaves home uninhabitable

A fire that broke out in a Woodstock home Monday morning left the structure unstable and displaced nine people living there, including a man who was seriously injured.

A firefighter also suffered minor injuries in the blaze, officials said.

A Woodstock police officer saw the fire and alerted people in the house in the 200 block of South Jefferson Street, according to a news release from the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.

Firefighters were dispatched to the house at 5:10 a.m. and got the fire under control within 45 minutes, according to the release. Seven neighboring fire departments responded to requests for aid during the fire.

A man who was critically injured was taken from the scene to Northwestern Huntley Hospital after a medical helicopter was unable to fly because of the weather, according to the release. A firefighter was taken to Northwestern Woodstock Hospital with minor injuries.

Preliminary investigations show that the fire began on the back deck of the house and then spread to the attic, officials said.

The cause of the fire still is being investigated, and a damage estimate was not available Monday afternoon. The home sustained water and smoke damage and is uninhabitable until repairs are made.

All nine residents of the home are receiving aid from the American Red Cross.