Chicory Ridge family escapes injury in house fire but not damage
Neighbors want to provide food for the family until they can return home.
Just after midnight on Tuesday, April 26,2022, firefighters from Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department (HRFD) were dispatched to the Tarragon Court cul-de-sac in Roscoe, off Chicory Ridge Way, to the home of Javier and Nicole Arellano and their four children. Soon they activated a MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Box 2nd Alarm, summoning nearby fire departments to assist. Several hours later, MABAS was activated again, this time by the Rockton Fire Department, for a house fire on Ferry Street.
When firefighters arrived, they found the family safely outside, but the fire had penetrated through the back of the home up through the roof line. A HRFD spokesman says, "Firefighters made an aggressive attack and were able to knock the fire down fairly quick." Inside the house, they had to pull down ceilings to reach the whole fire.
Fire Chief Don Shoevlin reports, "The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but appears to be electrical from a hot tub on the rear patio."
On the website Meal Train, Jennifer Thibodeau reports "their home is no longer livable." Besides the roof, one level of the tri level home - the back section - was destroyed. Through the website, friends and neighbors are signing up to provide meals for the family. For the first few days, the menu will include pizza and salad, chorizo and egg tacos, PR Rice, baked mostaccioli and brownies.
There are still many opportunities to contribute or to sign up for meals. The family are not picky eaters, but some of their favorite restaurants are Culvers, Chilis, Beef-a-Roo, any of the local pizza places, Panera, and McDonald's. They enjoy pasta, chicken, tacos, and pizza.
Click on the photo below to view a photo gallery by HRFD photographer Sheryl Drost.
