57 Residents Displaced After 9-Hour Apartment Fire In Woodridge

WOODRIDGE, IL — Fifty-seven people were displaced from their homes and four people were hurt in a fire that tore through the Windsor Lakes Apartment Homes in Woodridge Thursday. Officials say the fire was exacerbated by the presence of natural gas and took more than nine hours to fully extinguish.

Firefighters were called to the apartment complex in the 7300 block of Woodward Avenue around 10 a.m. for a report of a fire. When they got to the scene, firefighters began battling the blaze and helping residents evacuate the premises.

Three residents and one firefighter sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. Officials say they left the scene in good and stable conditions.

The fire was fully extinguished around 7:30 p.m., with a total of 41 homes having been damaged.

Fire officials confirmed that natural gas was present during the blaze, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Displaced residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross and the Village of Woodridge. Officials say all of the residents who were displaced are in temporary housing.

A temporary shelter has been made available by the American Red Cross to offer shelter, meals and other support.

“The strength of our community is often most visible during our most difficult moments,” Mayor Gina Cunningham said in a statement.

She added, “Woodridge has faced tornadoes, fires, and other challenges before, and time and again, our neighbors, businesses, organizations, and first responders have shown up for one another. While this incident is devastating, I know we will do the same today. We will support those who have lost their homes, care for one another, and get through this together.”