Larry Shapiro

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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. 

#larryshapiro; #shapirophotography.net; #WheelingFD; #firescenes.net; #housefire;
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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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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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Northwest Central Dispatch received a call around noon on Monday (2/1/21) from a resident reporting a neighbor’s house on fire at 605 Patton Drive in Buffalo Grove, IL. Arriving fire companies had flames and heavy smoke through the roof of a small, split-level house. The first unit on scene, Tower 25, initiated a transitional attack from the rear of the house as other companies arrived and began pulling additional lines. Buffalo Grove engine 26 and Arlington Heights Engine 4 were the next to arrive followed by Palatine Engine 82, several ambulances, and chief officers. 

Three hand lines were stretched for an interior attack of the fire that was in the attic and second floor, the bulk of which was extinguished within about 15 minutes.

smoke and flames from attic of house
Larry Shapiro photo

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Buffalo Grove (IL) police and firefighters were called to 134 Golfview Terrace Tuesday afternoon (1/5/21) for a reported house fire. Police officers were first on the scene and said there were flames through the roof. Buffalo Grove Battalion 4 upgraded the alarm to a Code 4 working fire based on the police report. The header was visible from a distance of at least a mile away. Tower Ladder 25 was the first fire company on the scene followed by Arlington Heights Engine 4. The first attack line was taken to the rear and quickly darkened the fire that was burning on the outside of the house. A second line went inside.

#Ferrara Inferno tower ladder on scene
Larry Shapiro photo

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Palatine (IL) firefighters were called for an apartment fire in the Woodhaven apartments at 15 B Dundee Quarter Drive 12/23/20. Engine 82 found heavy fire on the third floor upon arrival. They used a blitz attack right away with their deck gun as lines were pulled to make an interior attack. The attic was well involved with flames venting through the roof. As other Palatine units arrived and took additional lines inside, the majority of the fire was extinguished in short order. The building’s design included a mansard roof which created concerns for hidden fire and the potential for communication around the fire wall to the next building. Vent holes were cut into the mansard on the B side and flames were again visible through the roof as Arlington Heights Tower 1 was preparing to deploy a master stream. Interior companies handled the remaining fire and the master stream was not used. At one point a master stream from Palatine Quint 83 was used to wash down the exterior in sector A.

building fire with mansard roof
Larry Shapiro photo

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