The Long Grove Fire Department received a call this morning about a house on fire at 1889 Checker Road. The fire department had been using the vacant house for training over the past two weeks as eight other departments participated in multiple interior evolutions per day. The training was completed yesterday and the fire department is scheduled to burn the house to the ground for the developer this Saturday morning with area residents in attendance.
Long Grove Squad 55 was in the driveway and supplied five lines. Larry Shapiro photo
Long Grove Tanker 55 supplied the squad with 3,000 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo
The call was delayed roughly 20 minutes this morning because the neighbor thought the fire department might still be training. Upon the realization that the fire was unattended, she phoned in the alarm and Long Grove responded with their full assignment including Tanker 55 since there are no hydrants in the area. The header could be seen shortly after leaving the station, and the first unit reported a working fire at the north end of the house where a large stack of wooden pallets had been stored.
The garage was down when firefighters arrived and the pallet storage was well involved. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters work a 2-1/2? line around the heaviest fire. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters take a line into the house. Larry Shapiro photo
Smoke pushes out of the two-story section of the house as firefighters made an interior attack to stop the fire. Larry Shapiro photo
Tankers were requested from Prospect Heights and Fox Lake since the department wanted to prevent the structure from going to the ground. Engines from Buffalo Grove and Palatine came in as did an ambulance from Arlington Heights for rehab. Much of the house was saved and will be burned on Saturday …
Prospect Heights Tanker 9 brought an additional 3,000 gallons to the scene and was able to nurse the squad just as the Long Grove tanker was out of water. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were at the scene to photograph the fire.
Long Grove firefighters stand by with a hand line on the exterior of the house. Larry Shapiro photo
The house sat 1/2 mile into the property with a gravel driveway. Rigs had to back down into position. The Fox Lake tanker was the last unit in line and made two trips to refill their 3,000-gallon tank. Larry Shapiro photo
As the fire has been contained, firefighters apply foam to the smoldering areas in an effort to conserve water. Larry Shapiro photo
The pallet pile smolders as firefighters hit hot spots. Larry Shapiro photo
The bulk of the house lives to burn another day. Larry Shapiro photo
A full gallery of images from the fire can be viewed HERE.
A few images from Larry Shapiro from the training which took place over the past two weeks. Galleries can be viewed HERE and HERE.
Buffalo Grove's reserve engine was used during the multiple days of training. Larry Shapiro photo
Multiple evolutions per day were conducted with interior fires and searches for victims. Larry Shapiro photo
Long Grove Engine 55 pumped alongside Buffalo Grove's engine. They drafted out of a series of three portable tanks. Larry Shapiro photo
Wheeling, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights, Lake Zurich, Buffalo Grove, and Barrington all participated in the training. Larry Shapiro photo
As the last day of training came, the fires grew in intensity. Larry Shapiro photo
The final evolution of the multi-day training was in this room on the first floor. Larry Shapiro photo
#1 by ffpm571 on September 16, 2011 - 9:57 AM
My stepson happened upon it on the way to his dentist. He called it in. The house was a far setback and there were no exposures.
#2 by T. Rayumnd on September 16, 2011 - 12:34 AM
Yes, you are correct Mike. But in this situation, even an old abandoned, empty house such as this, burning it to the ground is a quite dangerous task. If they had just arrived on scene and said “Forget it, lets just let this house burn down,” there would have been many safety concerns. Mainly regarding it spreading to other houses, etc. So yes they used resources to put it out, but when it comes time to burn it down tomorrow, they will have the adequate safety measures in place to allow it to happen without any negative consequences.
#3 by Mike R on September 15, 2011 - 9:06 PM
Did I mis-read this article? All of the equipment and resources used were to save this house to burn it to the ground Saturday?