Neighbor Saves Family From House Fire In Tinley Park

TINLEY PARK, IL — A family was saved from a house fire that caused a substantial amount of damage after a good Samaritan who was driving past the home alerted those inside of the flames, according to Tinley Park Fire Chief Forest Reeder.

Reeder told Patch the flames engulfed the home around 6 a.m. Thursday in the 17300 block of South Harlem Avenue. The chief said the couple who lives in the home was asleep at the time, and a stranger, possibly a neighbor, saw the flames while driving past and immediately stopped their car to bang on the front door, waking those inside. Everyone managed to escape and nobody was hurt, according to Reeder.

The house is currently uninhabitable and the family is receiving help from the American Red Cross. The cause of the fires still unknown, and fire officials stayed on site hours past extinguishing the flames, Reeder said.

The person who alerted the family was unknown Thursday afternoon, but Reeder said the department plans to find out who they are and thank them.

"The good Samaritan really made a difference here today," Reeder said, adding that many residents are reaching out to help the family via social media. If anything is formally organized, the department will release information to the public on how to help, if they wish to.

Orland Park, Frankfort, and Oak Forest fire departments assisted Tinley Park in putting out the flames.

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