Woodridge Apartment Fire Displaces 57, Damages 41 Units

A daylong fire at a suburban Chicago apartment complex has left 57 people without homes after flames, fed in part by natural gas, spread through three buildings at Windsor Lakes Apartment Homes in Woodridge, Illinois. Village officials said 41 apartment units were damaged in the Thursday, Sept. 24, blaze, which took firefighters more than nine hours to fully extinguish.

What happened

The Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District was called to a structure fire on the 7300 block of Woodward Avenue at about 10 a.m., according to a Village of Woodridge press release. Crews reported flames visible from the building when they arrived, and ABC7 Chicago reported that part of the roof collapsed during the fight. At least five neighboring agencies assisted, and Woodward Avenue was closed near 75th Street while crews worked.

The fire was not fully out until roughly 7:30 p.m. Officials said the presence of natural gas complicated suppression efforts. Utility crews from Nicor Gas and ComEd shut off gas and power to the affected area, according to CBS Chicago.

Who was affected

The village reported that 41 units were affected and 57 residents displaced. Three residents and one firefighter were taken to a hospital; officials described all four as stable. No deaths were reported. Fire Chief Jimmy Lahanis credited firefighters, police and supporting agencies with working together to evacuate residents safely.

By the following morning, all of the displaced residents had found temporary housing, according to Shaw Local.

Response and aid

The American Red Cross set up a temporary shelter offering meals, counseling, spiritual care and a place to sleep, and the village said it was coordinating assistance alongside the agency. Residents seeking help were directed to the Red Cross line at 1-800-733-2767.

Several days after the fire, the community organized donation channels, Shaw Local reported:

• Gift cards and food at the West Suburban Community Pantry, 6809 Hobson Valley Drive, Suite 118.
• Blankets, clothing and personal care items at the Windsor Lakes leasing office, 7499 Woodward Avenue.
• Monetary donations through the nonprofit Woodridge Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Mayor Gina Cunningham said the community's strength is often most visible in its hardest moments.

Cause and investigation

The cause has not been determined. Lahanis told CBS Chicago that natural gas "did play into this fire," but said the actual cause was undetermined while investigators completed their work. The origin and cause investigation remains open.

What this means for renters

Fires that involve natural gas or roof collapses can keep buildings closed for long stretches, because utilities and structural engineers both have to sign off before anyone moves back in. For displaced tenants, the first weeks matter most:

• Get your status in writing. Ask management whether your unit is considered uninhabitable and what that means for rent due during the closure. Most leases address what happens when a unit is destroyed or made unlivable, so read your lease's casualty or fire clause.
• Call your renters insurer right away. Many policies include "additional living expenses" or "loss of use" coverage that pays for hotels and meals while you are displaced. Keep every receipt.
• Document what you can. Photos, bank and card statements, and online order histories help rebuild an inventory of lost belongings for a claim.
• Know the smell of gas. If you ever smell rotten eggs in your building, leave first and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not flip switches or use lighters on the way out.

If you are among the displaced, keep in contact with the Red Cross and the village, which said it would share updates through its website, social media and E-News.