The Chicago Tribune reported on a house fire that occurred this morning in Aurora, leaving three people injured and four dogs rescued. According to officials, the fire broke out at 9:55 a.m. on the 900 block of Garfield Street in the far western suburb of Aurora. The blaze was classified as a two-alarm fire, prompting 50 firefighters from multiple departments to respond, including members of the Aurora Fire Department’s rapid intervention team.
The two-story home was declared a total loss after flames spread into the walls and attic, making it extremely difficult to control. Two women and one man were taken to local hospitals for smoke inhalation and minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes. Officials noted that the injuries are not life-threatening.
One of the women and the man were rescued from a rear upper porch by three Aurora police officers, with the help of an 18-year-old neighbor who used a ladder before the firefighters arrived. Local agencies like Sugar Grove and North Aurora also assisted, while Naperville and Oswego provided additional support during the operation.
From The Beacon-News, we learn more about the harrowing events of the morning. Josue Lopez, an 18-year-old Aurora resident, became an unexpected hero when he helped rescue two people from the burning home. Lopez and his family had just left their home on Garfield Avenue when they heard screams coming from the nearby house.
A young woman ran out of her home, flames already engulfing the inside. She told Lopez that her parents were still inside. Without hesitation, Lopez rushed toward the house, where he found Dave Dykstra, 51, and his wife Valerie, 50, trapped and screaming. They had broken a window to escape but were badly cut by the shattered glass.
Lopez tried to find a ladder to help them, but it was chained. After struggling to free it, he decided to get them to jump from the roof. As he called out, three Aurora police officers arrived and managed to cut the ladder loose. They then helped the couple to safety.
It took over two hours for more than 50 firefighters from three departments to bring the fire under control. The house at 922 Garfield was reduced to a charred frame. Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli said the fire had spread into the walls and attic, making it very challenging to extinguish.
Both Dave and Valerie Dykstra were treated for injuries and smoke inhalation and were in stable condition later that afternoon. Their daughter, Victoria, and four family dogs escaped unharmed.
Lopez, though hailed as a hero, downplayed his actions. “I didn’t even think about it. You just gotta do what you gotta do,†he said. He hopes others would do the same if they were in his place.
The fire caused over $300,000 in damage, and the cause is still under investigation by the Aurora Fire Department’s Arson Team.
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