Neighbor Alerts Family To Fire; House Destroyed

PLAINFIELD, IL — Five people escaped a fire unhurt Christmas Eve in Plainfield, thanks to a neighbor who alerted them to the blaze, fire officials said. Plainfield Fire Chief Jon Stratton said firefighters went to the home in the 24700 block of Williams Court after a call came in at noon reporting the fire.

A neighbor spotted the fire and got all five people out of the home before allowing them to stay in his house to get out of the frigid weather, Stratton said.

Firefighters arrived within four minutes of the 911 call and found flames coming through the roof in the front of the home. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes, but Stratton said the house is a total loss and is uninhabitable.

Firefighters battled the blaze in strong winds that blew the flames onto a neighbor's house, but the second home had limited damage, Stratton said.

The Plainfield Emergency Management Agency was at the scene managing traffic as Plainfield-Naperville Road was shut down for about an hour to allow for firefighting equipment and hydrant use. PEMA also had a warming van at the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Stratton said misuse of smoking materials may have contributed.

No one was injured in the fire.