Nearby workers help Edwardsville apartment residents escape fire [Video]

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – A Friday morning apartment fire on Devon Court in Edwardsville displaced several residents. The apartments are near SIU-Edwardsville, and the affected residents are students.

Resident Afzal Biabani, an SIUE graduate student, credits two nearby realty workers for alerting residents about the fire.

“They were screaming for everyone to get out and just evacuate,” Biabani said.

Nikki McCormick is one of those workers who helped. She was working inside the REMAX Alliance office across the street when she walked to a closet and just happened to spot flames out of the corner of her eye.

McCormick joined co-worker Katy Clark in running across the street to help as Clark called 911 for help.

Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said the fire appeared to have started on the second floor and spread to the attic. A cause has yet to be determined, and an investigation is underway.

A university …