As Laura Williams waited outside a Super 8 in Northlake where she’s been staying for the holidays, about to embark on an apartment search Wednesday evening, she felt “blessed.”
Last Wednesday, Williams, 60, was returning home from a doctor’s appointment when she saw flames coming from another apartment at her multifamily building at 10315 W. Lyndale Ave. in unincorporated Melrose Park.
“I ran downstairs and grabbed a lady’s cat because it was right by the fire, then I ran up into my apartment and grabbed my money orders and my cat,” said an upbeat but exhausted Williams as she took a cigarette break in the motel parking lot.
Williams, who lives with her cat, Misty, was among 26 people who were displaced when a kerosene lamp used to warm a home tipped over, causing the fire to erupt, she said.
Misty was hiding and scared the first couple of days after coming to the motel, “like she was in shock like the rest of us,” but has since settled down, Williams said.
Luckily, Williams was not hurt and none of her belongings, including gifts, were damaged.
Four family homes were destroyed and other units were rendered “uninhabitable” in the blaze, which left the building without electricity, according to a written statement from the American Red Cross and the Disaster Ministries of the United Church of Christ. Repairs may take weeks, delaying the residents’ return, the statement said.
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Meanwhile, faith and humanitarian leaders are asking for businesses to help everyone affected, all adults. Some of them have access and functional needs, others are seniors and most have issues with transportation, according to the statement.
The Red Cross was sheltering and feeding the displaced residents at the Super 8 motel in Northlake. Their immediate needs include financial assistance, clothing, transportation, housing, mental health assistance, food resources and gift cards.
“We were blessed by the Red Cross, and then our village stuck with us,” Williams said as she thought about being displaced during this time of year.
A few days ago, the township of Leyden took over the responsibility of housing the displaced people at the motel, but Williams said they were told they have until Saturday to find other accommodations.
Williams said the township is helping them a lot throughout this process, from providing meals to helping people find a new apartment.
“They’re doing a lot,” she said. “The people from Leyden are taking care of us.”
To help, organizations should contact The Red Cross’s Joy Medrano at 309-509-3708, or joy.medrano@redcross.org.
