After being dispatched to a working fire at an unknown address because of the volume of 911 calls, firefighters from the North Maine FPD (Des Plaines, IL) followed a header and travelled less than 1/2 mile to 9320 Noel Street in unincorporated Maine Township. They pulled up to heavy fire blowing out what was left of one unit of a four-unit, two-story apartment building. The entire front of the second unit from the street had been blown out. The alarm was upgraded to a Working Fire and then a MABAS Box Alarm, followed within minutes by an upgrade to the 2nd Alarm.
Multiple hand lines and three elevated master streams were used to battle the fire, the majority of which had been knocked down prior to my arrival.
Ring doorbell video of townhouse explosion in Des Plaines, ILfirefighters battling flames from a townhouse explosion in Des Plaines, IL
Firefighters from Wheeling and Prospect Heights (IL) responded to an outside fire at 25 Versailles Court on the morning of 12/4/22 at 9:30. Wheeling Engine 23 arrived and reported a fire on the ‘D’ side of the house and upgraded the alarm to a working fire. Flames engulfed the west side of the house along with an outdoor structure, and impinged on the second floor. There was an exposure concern to the house on the ‘D’ side but the fire was contained with what was apparently only damage to the vinyl siding on the neighbor’s house.
Several lines were deployed and Tower 24 went to the roof. The fire appeared to be contained within 15 minutes.
House fire at 25 Versailles Court in Wheeling, IL 12-4-22. Larry Shapiro photo
House fire at 25 Versailles Court in Wheeling, IL 12-4-22. Larry Shapiro photo
House fire at 25 Versailles Court in Wheeling, IL 12-4-22. Larry Shapiro photo
House fire at 25 Versailles Court in Wheeling, IL 12-4-22. Larry Shapiro photo
House fire at 25 Versailles Court in Wheeling, IL 12-4-22. Larry Shapiro photo
Buffalo Grove (IL) firefighters and police officers were sent to 1011 Aspen Drive late Monday afternoon for a worker that was reported to be trapped in a hole in the front yard. Workers had been digging apparently to repair a residential sewer service at the home where one worker was in the hole and there was a ground collapse.
Arriving firefighters encountered workers frantically digging to free their coworker. The entire MABAS Division 1 Technical Rescue Team was requested as Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods firefighters initiated a rescue operation. Initial reports were that the worker unconscious and not breathing.
TRT techs arrived and worked for over an hour to free the worker from the collapse. A special call was made for a sewer vac, but the rescue was completed before the unit arrived. The victim, who did not survive, was transported to an area hospital.
Schaumburg (IL) firefighters were dispatched to a commercial building fire in an auto body repair shop shortly after 6PM on Sunday evening (12-4-22) at 841 W Wise Road, a block from Schaumburg Station 53. Police reported 20-foot flames in the rear of the building which firefighters confirmed on arrival. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 working fire bringing all of the Schaumburg companies to the scene in addition to an engine and ambulance from Roselle. Change of quarters companies from several area departments were sent to Schaumburg stations.
The fire was actually in a dumpster/garbage area in the rear of the building which resulted in some communication into the building’s roof. Companies had the fire out within 10 minutes but worked for over an hour checking for extension and hitting hotspots. The corrected address was 857 W Wise Road.
The Hanover Township Emergency Services also responded to the scene with support units and lighting.
Chicago firefighters battled a 3-11 Alarm fire in a commercial building with a bow-string truss roof at 3040 W. Lawrence Avenue late morning and into the afternoon on Tuesday 3/22/22.
The Wheeling Fire Department (IL) received a call reporting fire in a house at 40 Versailles Court just before 8:30 PM Wednesday evening (1/26/22). The initial assignment was Glencoe Squad 30, Des Plaines Engine 61, Buffalo Grove Tower 25, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD Battalion 51, Mount Prospect Battalion 3, Arlington Heights Ambulance 2, Wheeling Squad 24 and both Wheeling ambulances. The balance of the Wheeling companies including chief officers were at a house fire in neighboring Prospect Heights just over a mile away. Prospect Heights units would also have been due on the initial alarm with Wheeling companies. Des Plaines and Glencoe responded from Wheeling stations where they were providing coverage.
As the fire in Prospect Heights was winding down, command at that incident released a Wheeling engine, Wheeling chief officers, and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Squad 51 to take in the Wheeling fire. Squad 24 was the first to arrive and initially reported nothing showing. After approaching the home on foot, they noted that the house was full of smoke and made the hydrant in the cul-de-sac. The alarm was upgraded to a Working Fire which added Mount Prospect Engine 14 and North Maine Engine 1 in addition to Wheeling Battalion 24 who cleared from the Prospect Heights incident.
Companies found a basement fire which was extinguished in short order, but he fire burned through a spot above on the first floor creating hazard to interior crews. The entire house was filled with smoke and had to be ventilated.
