Joliet Apartment Fire Displaces Nearly 40 Residents

A major fire broke out Tuesday morning at the Twin Oaks Apartments on Essington Road in Joliet, Illinois, starting at 8:17 a.m. and brought under control by 9:23 a.m. The blaze caused heavy fire damage to the attic and upper floors, resulting in seven residents suffering minor injuries and nearly 40 people being displaced. Emergency crews, including Joliet firefighters, police officers, and a maintenance worker, rescued several people trapped on balconies and upper units, as shown in released body camera footage. No firefighters were injured, and all residents were safely accounted for. The Joliet Office of Emergency and Disaster Management is assisting those who lost their homes. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and officials have praised the coordinated emergency response.