Joliet House Goes Up In Flames, Fireplace Blamed For Blaze

JOLIET, IL — The homeowners at 1506 Rickey Drive will have to find somewhere else to stay for the time being after their house on the city's east side went up in flames Monday night.

Around 8:20 p.m., the Joliet Fire Department responded to 1506 Rickey Drive for a structure fire, sending fire engines from Stations 1, 3, 4 and 6. The residents of the home made it out safely.

Battalion chief Jim Ryan said the homeowners heard crackling and smelled smoke coming from their fireplace they had lit. The residents evacuated and learned that the back of their house was on fire. Ryan said that house on Rickey Drive is one of the properties on that street in the city's jurisdiction. The rest of the homes are part of the East Joliet Fire District.

On arrival, Joliet Fire Department crews were met with heavy fire from two sides of the structure. The fire was knocked down from the outside as crews prepared to make entry through the front door. Joliet's crews spent two hours extinguishing the structure fire.