Severe storms passed through the city and suburbs late in the afternoon on Saturday keeping many fire departments busy. Park Ridge and North Maine units were picking up from a storm related call shortly after 5PM when a call was received reporting smoke from a house next door to another home with a gas leak. North Maine Engine 1 was first on the scene at 110 N. Home Avenue and reported smoke showing from two sides of a large two-story modern home. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 for the working fire shortly after the first units arrived.
Firefighters from Morton Grove Squad 4 work on the roof providing vertical ventilation. Larry Shapiro photo
Park Ridge Tower Ladder 36 with ladder to the roof as light smoke vents from the attic. Larry Shapiro photo
Units on the still alarm were Park Ridge with an engine, tower, two ambulances and the battalion chief, Niles Ambulance 3, plus North Maine Engine 1 and Battalion 1. The Code 4 brought Niles Truck 2, DesPlaines Engine 62, Glenview Engine 7, Lincolnwood Ambulance 15, tower 158 from Rosemont, plus Squad 4 from Morton Grove.
Fire burns briefly through a hole in the roof as firefighters in the bucket stand by. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters on the roof finish cutting several vent holes. Larry Shapiro photo
Companies entered the house and found clear conditions on the second floor until they opened the scuttle to the attic. They encountered high heat, heavy smoke, and active fire. Portions of the attic were finished with a plywood floor which hampered efforts to gain access to parts of the attic from some of the second floor rooms.
Fire was in the attic of this large two-story house at 110 N. Home Avenue in Park Ridge. Larry Shapiro photo
Two lines were used in the house and multiple holes were cut in the roof. The high humidity and extensive interior work necessitated an upgrade to a Box Alarm for relief companies. This brought engines from River Grove, Norwood Park, and Wheeling, a tower from Mt. Prospect, a squad from Skokie, an ambulance from Buffalo Grove, and Des Plaines Battalion 9. The fire was struck out around 6:30PM.
North Maine Engine 1 was the first unit on the scene and had two lines off. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro went to the scene and submitted several images.
Park Ridge Engine 35 was the second engine to arrive. Larry Shapiro photo
Norwood Park’s new Engine 101 was parked on Touhy. Larry Shapiro photo
Mount Prospect Tower 13 came in on the Box Alarm. Larry Shapiro photo
Glenview Engine 7 was due on the Code 4 and Wheeling Engine 23 came in on the Box Alarm. Larry Shapiro photo
Niles Truck 2 was staged behind the Park Ridge tower ladder. Larry Shapiro photo
A gallery with more images can be found HERE.
