PEORIA, Ill. – The community is once again heeding the call to help after a fire in West Peoria earlier this week destroyed an apartment building.
The fire at Edgewood Apartments in West Peoria injured several people, including Kaleb Martin’s two children, who suffered first degree burns.
Kaleb got his kids to safety as people outside the apartment used a sheet to create a catch basin – which Kaleb tells 25 News terrified him.
(25 News)
“Three stories up, and it just looks like just such a thin sheet that they got. It’s like, is it going to catch my daughter, and there’s nothing but concrete below us,” said Martin, to 25 News. “The guy down that you see on the video, saying, ‘You trust me? You have my word.’”
Martin is referring to Peoria County Sheriffs bodycam video that recorded the rescue, which you can see below.
“I counted to three, I looked down at them, and I let her go,” said Martin.
Martin’s fiance’ is also among those hospitalized, but Kaleb says she’s recovering.
Porch Pantry Peoria is organizing a fundraiser for the Martins, and others displaced by the fire which briefly rekindled Friday.
CLICK HERE for a GoFundMe page set up to help the Martins.
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