Peoria County SO
The Peoria County (IL) Sheriff’s Office has released video that shows deputies and citizens using a blanket to catch a child dropped from the third floor of a burning apartment building in West Peoria. The incident happened June 20 at about 10:25 p.m.
Deputies responded to the fire and saw the apartment building had flames coming from the roof.
A family of four was trapped on the third floor and deputies tried to make entry but the hallway was ablaze.
Deputies and citizens used a blanket to catch the family’s five-year-old child who the family members dropped out of a window to safety below.
West Peoria Fire and other local fire agencies responded and saved the other members of the family.
"This is such a great example of our first responders working with citizens in our community to save lives. As you can see and hear in the body-worn camera footage, this was a very intense situation. I am proud of everyone involved and thoughts and prayers for the families affected by this fire," Sheriff Watkins said on Facebook.
