Batavia apartment fire displaces residents

Robin Bumalay and her 5-year-old son rummaged through their soot-filled Batavia apartment Saturday afternoon, picking up clothes and toys to take to a relative’s house after a fire caused $300,000 in damage to the building and left them and others temporarily homeless.

Bumalay said she and her son were sleeping when smoke detectors woke them shortly after 8 p.m. Friday.

“I ignored it at first, and then when I opened the door, the hallway was filled with smoke,” said Bumalay, who lives on the second floor of the building on the 1000 block of Lorlyn Circle in the unit next to the one where the fire broke out.

Firefighters from Batavia, North Aurora, Geneva and St. Charles evacuated more than 40 residents from the 10-unit, three-story building and the adjoining building and had the blaze under control in about 40 minutes, according to the Batavia Fire Department.

Using ladders, firefighters rescued one person from a second-floor balcony, officials said. One resident was treated on site for smoke inhalation and was released. A firefighter whose hand was cut by falling glass refused treatment at the scene.

The fire was contained to the single unit, but “thick, rancid smoke” damaged units in both buildings, according to the report.

Bumalay and others who watched in the rain received hotel vouchers from Red Cross volunteers Friday night. Bumalay said Lorlyn Apartments maintenance crews were cleaning apartments on Saturday. She said some displaced residents were offered housing within the complex, but there are not enough open units for everyone.

“My TV and electricity still work, but I can’t stay here,” she said. “My apartment is full of soot and smoke. That’s not good for my little guy.”