The Barrington Countryside FPD (IL) responded to a house fire early this morning (5/3/18) at 83 Paganica Drive in Barrington Hills. A header was visible as units were en route and they found heavy fire from the second floor and mansard roof upon arrival. The resident had evacuated the house. The area is without hydrants. The first engine and tanker pulled into the driveway with 4,000 gallons of water as the second engine dropped a line to the end of the street to initiate a drafting operation from three portable tanks. Fourteen tankers shuttled water for over two hours to supply several hand lines that were operating. The house sustained heavy damage and the fire’s origin is believed to be a lightning strike.
Highland Park (IL) firefighters were dispatched for a house fire on Churchill Lane after 1AM Wednesday (4/18/18). Police officers arriving first confirmed a fire at 2088 Churchill Lane. Fire companies arrived and reported a two-story house that was fully involved. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 for the working fire which had been burning for some time. Within minutes the roof was in and a two-story portico over the driveway also collapsed.
Firefighters were unable to enter the main living area of the house to conduct a primary search due to the volume of fire and defensive operations were initiated. The whereabouts of the home’s occupants could not be established. Neighbors reported that the two residents were believed to be hoarders. Two bodies were eventually recovered from within the remnants of the house. The address was corrected to 2088 Kipling Lane.
Buffalo Grove (IL) police and firefighters were called to the 1000 block of Deerfield Road on Easter Sunday (4/1/18) for a one-car crash with entrapment. An ambulance from the neighboring Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD was first on the scene while responding to an unrelated EMS assignment. The SUV struck a tree in the center median and sustained significant damage trapping the driver’s left leg. The extrication was completed after roughly an hour. The cold temperatures prompted the use of a portable heater to provide comfort for the patient. Units from Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, and Long Grove were working at the scene.
Chicago firefighters responded to a church at 1540 N Spaulding today (2/20/18) for a fire in the steeple. Master streams from two tower ladders and a squad operated in a defensive posture. The fire did not communicate into the main church. A lightning strike is believed to have caused the fire.
Chicago firefighters battled fire in a commercial building at 4749 W. Lake Street just after midnight Monday (2/12/18). The fire was discovered by Truck 29 while returning to quarters from a Still & Box Alarm fire. Flames had already engulfed the entire building and the alarm was eventually elevated to a 2-11. The building collapsed shortly after companies went to work. Two multi-versals along with elevated master streams from Tower Ladder 5, Tower Ladder 14, Squad 2A and Truck 29 were deployed. One member from the 5-11 Club Support Service Unit was injured after loosing his balance on a patch of ice and was transported to a hospital.
Des Plaines (IL) firefighters were called to 539 Westmere Road around 12:20PM on Friday (1/26/18) for reports of fire in an attached garage. The initial call was followed by multiple 9-1-1 calls. Engine 63 arrived first and reported heavy fire from the attached garage that spread into the second floor of the split-level house. Strong winds blew smoke across the street obscuring visibility on the street.
The fire was too intense to make entry so an exterior line was used with foam to make an initial attack and Tower Ladder 63 was setup to the roof for ventilation. Four lines were used and the fire was knocked down within 20 minutes.
Des Plaines (IL) firefighters responded to a fire at Maine Scrap Metals at 1274 Rand Road just after 11PM on Wednesday (1/10/18). They arrived and had fire inside the building and upgraded the alarm to a working fire. Within minutes they were defensive with flames through the roof and a compromised exterior wall. The alarm was upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm as master streams were put into operation. Eventually four elevated streams were deployed from Des Plaines Tower 61, Des Plaines Tower 63, Niles Truck 2, and Chicago Squad 7A.
After the bulk of the fire was out and access to the smoldering fire was difficult due to the roof collapse, a front end loader was brought in to knock down the remains of the D-Sector wall which bordered a limousine company.
