Will County Gazette

At 8:17 a.m. on June 10, 2025, the Joliet Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 115 Essington Road in Joliet, Illinois. Battalion Chief Dan Berta was first on the scene after returning from a motor vehicle accident on I-80. He reported that three individuals—a mother, father, and their 3-year-old child—were trapped on a third-story balcony.

A maintenance worker helped Chief Berta position an extension ladder to reach the trapped family. As they did so, the father attempted to lower himself to a second-floor balcony but fell to the ground. Chief Berta instructed the mother to stay put while he rescued the child and then assisted her down safely. All three refused further medical treatment after being evaluated at the scene.

Fire units arrived within five minutes of the initial call and encountered heavy fire from an upper unit of the building. Crews initiated an interior attack but later transitioned to a defensive strategy due to heavy attic fire conditions. After knocking down the fire with master streams, crews re-entered for extinguishing hot spots and conducted secondary searches.

Approximately 15 people were inside during the incident; all other occupants evacuated safely on their own. Seven residents received treatment for minor injuries at the scene, and all residents were accounted for.

The building housed 12 residential units with a total of 39 individuals. The fire was declared under control by 9:23 a.m., with no firefighter injuries reported. Firefighters from multiple Joliet stations responded, totaling 40 personnel on site until operations concluded at 11:45 a.m.

Assistance in relocating displaced residents was coordinated by Will County Emergency Management and supported by the Red Cross. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Chief Dan Berta's quick response played a crucial role in managing this emergency situation effectively.