Community Corner
1 Killed, Peotone Firefighter's Home Destroyed In Fire: GoFundMe
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, $15,925 out of a $20,000 goal had been raised for firefighter Alison Wojack.
PEOTONE, IL — A fire Wednesday night in Peotone claimed one person's life and destroyed a Peotone firefighter's home. A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help Peotone firefighter/paramedic Alison Wojack with expenses after the fire.
According to the GoFundMe campaign, the fire started at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday in the basement of Wojack's home. Her best friend's grandmother, Brenda Adkins, 79, died in the fire.
"Everyone called her 'Gram,'" Wojack said. She had invited Adkins to live with her, and Adkins lived in the basement of the townhome where there was a bedroom and kitchen area for her.
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Wojack was at school at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn when the call came about the fire.
"I got the page on my phone, and saw it was my own address," she said.
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The fire has almost completely destroyed Wojack's home.
"There isn't much that's salvageable," she said.
The fire burned out much of the floor of the first story of the home, and where it didn't burn through the floor, the smoke and flames damaged the walls and interior of the home. The cause of the fire isn't yet known.
The GoFundMe campaign for Wojack was created by her fellow firefighters. Wojack said she didn't know they had created it at first.
"Ali has been a firefighter/paramedic for Peotone for five years and became a resident of Peotone around that time," according to the GoFundMe, which was created by Lt. Brennan Dircks and firefighter Dillon Pierce. "Ali has been the first to help others in their time of need."
The damage from the fire has left Wojack with expenses that insurance won't cover, the GoFundMe said.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, $15,925 was raised out of a $20,000 goal.
"It's very humbling," Wojack said. She was thankful for those who had given money to the page.
Visitation for Adkins will be held 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Interment is in St. John's Cemetery in Mokena.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Peotone Fire Protection District, 7550 W. Joliet Road, Peotone, IL 60468 would be appreciated.
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