Good Samaritans help Niles man jump from burning home

Two good Samaritans helped break the fall of a man who jumped from a second-story window to escape a house fire Tuesday afternoon in north suburban Niles.

“He had no choice, it was either die in there or take a leap of faith,” said Andy Iskos, one of the people who came to the man’s rescue during the fire in the 8100 block of Ottawa.

The fire started on the second floor of the home in the 8100 block of Ottawa Avenue in Niles. | Network Video Productions

Iskos said he and others were at a nearby business when a woman came in screaming that the house was on fire. They went to see if they could help, and found the man hanging out of a second-story window, trying to get air as the house filled with smoke.

The rescuers found some sort of tarp or barbecue grill cover, stretched it out and persuaded the man to jump, Iskos said.

“He jumped, we caught him, we broke his fall,” said the good Samaritan, who added that the man was walking around and alert afterward.

Niles Fire Chief Steve Borkowski said crews arrived within a minute of receiving the first 911 calls at 1:26 p.m. Everyone made it out of the home, and one resident was taken to a local hospital, he said.

Andy Iskos said he and other good Samaritans were in a neighboring business, and ran to see if they could help when they learned about the fire. | Network Video Productions

Saad Mughal also lives in the home and is the nephew of the man who jumped. The family doesn’t know what caused the fire, but the flames started on the second floor, he said.

“I was in the basement and I saw the smoke and I heard all the firemen that were screaming,” Mughal said. “I was sleeping, I woke up and ran right out.”

“Our neighbors as well did a great job of helping us out and called 911 when they saw something wrong,” said Mughal, who also credited the good Samaritans for coming to their aid.