Windsor Lakes Fire Leaves Apartments Uninhabitable With $500,000 in Damage

Helicopters buzzed overhead and dozens of emergency vehicles swarmed around Windsor Lakes apartments in Woodridge after residents were evacuated from their homes Wednesday in the 7400 block of Woodward Avenue.

Although initial reports from police indicated the late morning fire was "cooking-related," Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District Chief David Lambright said late Wednesday afternoon that their investigation had ruled out a cooking fire as the source. 

"The actual cause of the fire is yet to be determined," Lambright said.

Lambright said the fire started in a garden-level apartment and spread upwards into the attic through plumbing spaces in the walls. Preliminary estimates had the total damage between $400,000 and $500,000.

Residents said they were evacuated by maintenance workers and fire personnel banging on their doors and ordering them out late Wednesday morning.

Darien-Woodridge Fire Inspector Robert Morris said apartment maintenance staff first noticed smoke while doing some routine work in the building Wednesday morning. Woodridge building inspectors said the fire spread from the ground floor to the top of the three-story apartment complex and then spread across the floors horizontally.

There are 15 units in 7411 Woodward Avenue, and building inspectors say the fire rendered all units uninhabitable due to smoke and water damage. All residents will have to be relocated, building inspectors said, but no injuries were immediately reported.

Lambright said building management is working with the Red Cross to assist displaced residents, and that people interested in helping should contact the Red Cross.

Firefighters busted out the front door and almost all windows on the southeast side of the building, and cut holes in the roof for access. Shattered glass from the front door sat in a pile on the sidewalk in front of the building's entrance early Wednesday afternoon.

Natasha Holmes, a four-month resident of that building, said she noticed what smelled like wires burning in the halls as she left for work hours earlier at 7:30 a.m.

Residents of a neighboring building, 7409 Woodward Avenue, reported hearing their fire alarms go off and seeing smoke shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday.

"I was sleeping and heard the alarm go off," said four-year Windsor Lakes resident George Kokuro, who lives in the neighboring building. "Then everyone started running."

Numerous fire departments were on hand, using ladders and cranes to access the roof of 7411 Woodward Avenue. Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District arrived to the scene first on Wednesday morning, then pulled a MABAS box alarm, summoning cooperating fire departments from around the area. Assisting fire departments included Lisle-Woodridge, Downers Grove, Westmont, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Oakbrook Terrace, La Grange Park and Pleasantview.

Windsor Lakes was damaged by another fire in February 2012, in which 30-year-old Rosemont resident Maria Bustamante later pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced to four years in prison.