A fire broke out yesterday at the Illinois Youth Center in Warrenville causing considerable damage to its primary structure, which houses several critical services including educational programs, health care facilities, a dining area, recreational spaces, and administrative offices, as reported by illinois.gov. Immediate evacuation protocols were initiated, and no injuries were reported among the 34 youth and 55 staff members present at the time of the incident—all were safely relocated to the Department's PEACE Center in St. Charles.
According to illinois.gov, the Warrenville Fire Department is currently probing into the cause of the blaze which originated in the kitchen, as the cooperation with local firefighting units allowed a prompt response to the emergency that quickly escalated the Governor Pritzker and Lt. Governor Stratton prior announced in summer 2020, that the facility, which has been operational since the mid-1970s, is to undergo a significant overhaul as part of their 21st Century Transformation Model. "I want to commend IDJJ staff for quickly following protocols and procedures to keep everyone safe," Acting Director Robert Vickery stated, acknowledging the swift action taken by both staff and emergency responders in his statement.
The investigation is ongoing, as per illinois.gov. "More information will be shared as it becomes available."
