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Cicero, IL companies were dispatched to 28th and Cicero Ave early Tuesday afternoon (6/1/21) for a report of flames from the building. Numerous calls came in and corrected the address to 4827 & 4829 w 28th Street. Engine Co. 3 arrived and reported heavy showing from the rear of a 2.5 wood-frame with exposure problems. Cicero F12 arrived on scene and boxed it shortly thereafter. F12 reported heavy fire in two, 2.5-sty buildings. Multiple 2.5 inch lines were dropped from all three Cicero engines. Truck Co. 2 made an aggressive attempt at a Milwaukee style cut, which ended up saving the rest of the roof of the one building. Truck Co. 1 was on the roof of the exposure and made numerous holes there as well. Mutual aid came from Berwyn, Stickney, Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Bedford Park, Lyons, and Riverside. All the companies on scene did a great job and made very aggressive interior and exterior attacks to save the rest of the buildings involved and the other exposures.

heavy smoke and flames from roof of building
Chi-Town Fire Photos

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Just before 2:00PM on Thursday, (4/22/21) fire companies from Long Grove, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Lake Zurich, Prospect Heights, Mundelein, the Countryside FPD, the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD, Barrington, and Elk Grove Township were dispatched for a house fire at 3159 Cuba Road in Long Grove. Initial reports were of fire on the roof that the resident was attempting to extinguish. The 6,000 square foot home with a cedar shake roof is located roughly 1,000 feet from the road with a winding driveway and wooden bridge for access.

A dispatcher notified responding units that the homeowner had reportedly reentered the home, but was outside again when the first units arrived. Long Grove units saw fire from the attic in front of the house and from the rear as well upon conducting an initial size up. The alarm was upgraded to a working fire bringing more resources including several additional tankers.

An interior attack was made and found heavy fire inside the home before firefighters were forced to retreat and change to defensive operations. Long Grove Tanker 55 with 3,000 gallons of water and Squad 55 with 730 gallons were both in the driveway followed shortly thereafter by Lake Zurich Engine 324 with another 750 gallons after they dropped 750′ of 5″ hose up the driveway on their way in. The alarm was upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm which later was upgraded to a 2nd and then a 3rd Alarm.

A deck gun was used to attack the fire until the initial 4800-gallon combined water supply was depleted while additional companies initiated a water supply from the street. Tankers shuttled water from two fill sites, one east and the other from the west.

At one point ammunition inside was heard exploding. Embers from the fire spread to the east starting several small brush fires. The wind-driven fire spread quickly and totally consumed the house which was completely destroyed. 

wind driven fire destroys large home in an area with no hydrants
fire destroys 6000 square foot home
Larry Shapiro photo

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Here are some images from a double fatal still & box fire back on February 28th at 8642 S. Hermitage in Chicago. The fire was well advanced before the first companies landed on the scene but an aggressive interior attack and search efforts were initiated despite those conditions. Sadly, two victims were located during the primary search. Both were transported and pronounced at local hospitals.

double fatal fire in Chicago
Eric Haak photo

Firefighters in Lake Zurich, IL encountered fire at a local Burger King restaurant at 642 S. Rand Road late Tuesday night, 3/30/21. Fire which began on the outside of the building communicated to the roof behind a tall parapet wall. Two master streams and hand lines operated at the fire.

flames from the roof of a Burger King at night
Jimmy Bolf photo

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Wednesday we were out on the south side when we heard Battalion 19 reporting a fire @ 61st and Halsted. First-in companies had smoke from the roof of a 1-sty strip mall, 50×150′. Engine 116 had two lines lead out and Truck 51 was up cutting some holes. Fast changing fire conditions forced Battalion 19 to pull everyone out and go defensive which brought the Still & Box. In total, there were 4 lines led out by Engines 116 & 84. Squad 5 Snorkel and TL 39 went to work with their master streams to knock down the bulk of the fire. 

commercial building fire in Chicago
Chi-Town Fire Photos

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Chicago Firefighters at the scene of a Still & Box Alarm fire at 1058 N Karlov 2/6/21 in frigid temperatures.

winter house fire scene in Chicago
Tim Olk photo

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