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Watch: Ill. deputies use blanket to catch 5-year-old dropped out of apartment window during fire

“As you can see and hear in the body-worn camera footage, this was a very intense situation. I am proud of everyone involved,” Sheriff Watkins said

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Peoria County Sheriff’s Office

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=954613102355019

By Sarah Roebuck
Police1

WEST PEORIA, Ill. — Deputies with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office helped rescue a 5-year-old girl who was trapped on the third floor of an apartment during a fire.

The fire happened Tuesday at 10:25 p.m. The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office said when deputies got to the fire, they saw flames coming from the roof of the building. The sheriff’s office said there was a family of four trapped on the third floor. When deputies tried to make entry, the hallway was engulfed in flames.

Body camera video shows deputies working with nearby residents to hold out a blanket to catch a 5-year-old girl who was dropped out of the window. West Peoria Fire and other local fire departments responded and saved the other three family members from the apartment.

“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.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.