2 Plainfield Students Save Dog During Joliet House Fire

JOLIET, IL - Two Plainfield Central juniors are being called heroes by District 202 school officials after their quick action prevented a home in Joliet from being destroyed by a fire. The two baseball players also were able to save the family’s dog from inside the home. According to District 202, baseball players Bobby Boekeloo and Ben Wielgos were walking through the subdivision on Sunday afternoon selling various items to raise money for their high school baseball program.

But then something was amiss. At first, they thought they smelled fireworks in the 3500 block of Stone Creek Court. As they walked close to the house, they heard a smoke alarm going off. This was the home of Rob and Wanda Czerwinski and their daughter Kayle. According to District 202, the family’s boxer Bella was the only one inside the home.

The two Plainfield Central student athletes went to the back to house. They saw black smoke and flames. Wielgos called 911, and Boekeloo got into the sun room to save the family's pet. “I felt like I wasn’t going to get harmed because I knew the fire wasn’t near the dog,” Boekeloo said. “I love dogs so I thought I’ve got to save it.”

The Czerwinski family was almost an hour away when the fire broke out, according to school officials.

“The firefighters said if they would have gotten there four or five minutes later the house would have been gone,” Rob Czerwinski said.

According to District 202, the fire caused extensive interior damage, but the home is structurally sound. Patch reached out to Joliet Fire Department officials, but the crew that investigated the fire won't be back on duty until Wednesday. Fortunately, no one was injured and the two Plainfield baseball players were able to save the family's dog.

The head baseball coach and dean of students at Plainfield Central praised Wielgos and Boekeloo for their quick response to the situation.

“(Wielgos and Boekeloo) are great kids,” John Rosner said. “We are lucky to be surrounded by great kids on the baseball team every day.”

Main image via city of Joliet Fire Department, images of Wieglos and Boekeloo provided by Plainfield District 202