DeKALB – Almost one month after an apartment fire engulfed three apartment buildings in DeKalb the week of the Christmas holiday, residents of two buildings are unable to return until the buildings are deemed safe and one of the buildings is demolished.
A fire broke out in a first-floor bathroom around 5 p.m. on Dec. 22 at 1024 W. Hillcrest Dr., according to DeKalb Fire Chief Mike Thomas. The blaze displaced about 60 people just days before Christmas.
At the apartment complex, three buildings are attached by a common basement and common attic. The utilities for all three buildings were in the lowest floor of 1024 W. Hillcrest, and independent utilities need to be implemented for each building prior to the buildings being habitable.
Since 1024 W. Hillcrest is a collapse hazard, it must be demolished.
The adjacent buildings include 930 and 934 W. Greenbrier Dr., which have been condemned until it is determined safe for residents to return.
Senior history major Grant Egler lives at 930 W. Hillcrest and had already gone home for the holiday when the fire happened.
The day of the fire Egler said he received an email from ComEd that power had been cut in the area.
“I was at home in Rockford because school had been out,” Egler said. “I was like huh, that sucks. I hope it comes back on. I’ve got meat in the fridge.”
Egler said one hour later he received an email from the American Red Cross saying there was an apartment fire. He didn’t think the email was real.
“They addressed me as Greg so I brushed it off as a scam,” Egler said. “Two hours later, I’m scrolling twitter and I see a story about a fire in DeKalb.”
After realizing the fire was at his apartment complex, Egler described how he reacted.
“I ripped my headphones off and sprinted upstairs,” Egler said.
Egler said he ran to tell his parents, “Hey guys, my apartment might be burning down.”
After the fire, city officials have been communicating with tenants.
According to a statement released by the city, at a tenants meeting on Dec. 31 City Manager Bill Nicklas said the most damaged building, 1024 W. Hillcrest Dr., would have to be demolished as the interior of the building had partially collapsed.
Since the collapsed building posed a safety risk, Thomas said the department was not able to get into the building to inspect as closely as they would have if the environment was safe.
“We know the area of origin, but we don’t know what caused it (the fire),” Thomas said. “Typically what we do is ensure there wasn’t any evidence of wrongdoing. We were able to determine it was not suspicious.”
Thomas said all residents got out of the buildings safely.
Assistance was provided by various DeKalb organizations and businesses following the blaze. Efforts to provide support to students impacted by the fire at NIU have been led by NIU’s Dean of Students, Kelly Olson.
Olson said as of Monday NIU has assisted nine undergraduate students and two graduate students.
“All those impacted were initially outreached to by the American Red Cross and Family Service Agency in DeKalb,” Olson said. “Unfortunately, with this being an off campus housing facility, we do not know the exact number of students who have been impacted and are reliant on information provided to us by the American Red Cross and Family Service Agency or students contacting us directly.”
Students who have been impacted by the fire and are seeking assistance should contact the Center for Student Assistance by emailing [email protected] or by calling 815-753-8300.
“We are more than willing to assist any and all students impacted,” Olson said.
Egler said he was contacted by the Center for Student Assistance after the fire but declined monetary support.
“I talked to someone there and I was like I don’t really need money,” Egler said. “Save that for the people who actually need it.”
Egler, who graduates in May, switched some of his classes to be online and decided he would have to commute for his in person classes this semester.
