Man Dies In House Fire Near Joliet
JOLIET TOWNSHIP (STMW) -- A man died and his wife was rescued from the roof of their two-story home during an early morning Christmas Day fire in an unincorporated area of Will County near Joliet.
East Joliet Fire Protection District Chief Robert Scholtes said a woman was on the porch roof of the home when firefighters and Will County Sheriff's Police arrived at the scene at 823 Greenfield Ave. about 3 a.m. The two departments worked together to extend a ladder to rescue her. She was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet for treatment. The extent of her injuries was unknown, Scholtes said.
Firefighters had trouble getting to the woman's husband.
"We had to pull them back out because of heavy smoke pushing out the front of the house," Scholtes”said. "They worked from the outside until they were able to get back in."”
There were no hydrants in the unincorporated area, but firefighters were able to stretch hose to reach a hydrant at Rowell Avenue and New Lenox Road, Scholtes said.
The man, whose name was being withheld pending positive identification, died in the blaze, according to the Will County Coroner's office. He was pronounced dead at 4:32 a.m.
The State Fire Marshal's office was called to investigate the origin of the fire, Scholtes said.
The house is structurally unsound due to heavy fire, heat and water damage, he added.
East Joliet received assistance from fire departments in Rockdale, Minooka, Manhattan, Channahon, New Lenox, Mokena, Lockport, Homer Township and Orland Park.
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