Champaign Firefighters’ Preparedness Leads to Successful Rescue Operation in Apartment Blaze

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Firefighters in Champaign demonstrated their swift emergency response skills over the weekend when a blaze erupted in an apartment complex. The urgent situation required immediate action as they rescued several residents and a dog from a balcony at the scene.

The fire broke out near the intersection of High View Court and Clayton Boulevard, prompting a rapid response. The apartment complex, owned by Ramshaw Real Estate, consists of 12 units, and the fire has unfortunately displaced at least 17 residents.

“We arrived at a three-story apartment building with flames visible on the second and third-floor balconies,” reported Chris Zaremba, Battalion Chief of the Champaign Fire Department.

In a coordinated effort, firefighters successfully evacuated eight people along with a dog from the balcony. Notably, seven of these individuals were already on the balcony when rescue teams arrived, highlighting the urgency and precision required in such operations.

While eight people and a dog were brought down from the balcony to safety, just seven of them were already on the balcony when the firefighters got there.

“One was in his bathroom. He had wet towels on the ground to try to keep the smoke out, and crews had to go in, find him in the bathroom, and bring him out to the balcony, and bring him down the balcony,” Zaremba said.

The reason for their outdoor rescues is simple.

“It’s the cleanest air. We have air packs on and bunker gear, they don’t,” Zaremba shared.

He added that there is an elevated kind of urgency when responding to a structure fire, knowing people are inside.

“It definitely ramps things up a little bit, you know, a little bit extra pep in your step, if you will, knowing that there’s people out there that need you to get them down, that can’t get themselves out,” Zaremba said.

He said that Sunday’s fire proves their training is essential to saving lives. They practice throwing ladders and bringing people down monthly.

“So, it’s something that we practice quite a bit so that they’re proficient when we need to throw a ladder,” Zaremba said.

And it’s paying off. He said that by the time they got on scene, firefighters had everyone out of the building within ten minutes.

At least 17 people remain displaced. Ramshaw Real Estate said that the Red Cross stepped in to help, and that they are now waiting for more information on next steps from the insurance company and the city.

As of Monday evening, the Champaign Fire Department had not identified a cause.