The Gurnee FD responded to 37921 N Dilleys Road in Wadsworth for a fire at the Pyramid on Tuesday, 7/17/18.
Excerpts from Chicago.cbslocal.com:
The iconic golden pyramid house in suburban Wadsworth caught fire Tuesday, filling the sky with smoke and flames. The fire started around 4 p.m. at the pyramid, built as a private home in the 1970s. It is 17,000 square feet and stands at six stories tall, surrounded by Egyptian statues and a moat.
The 80-year-old homeowner and designer who has dementia was inside the home in his wheelchair when the fire started. His caregiver and fire officials were able to get him out of the home safely. A 15-year-old Yorkie died in the fire.
The unusually shaped home made it difficult for firefighters to battle the flames. Fire officials say a wind-driven fire created a mayday explosion on the fourth floor. They described it as a blow-torch that blew firefighters off their feet. Two firefighters were injured.
Gurnee Battalion Chief David Douglas said, “We’ve done walkthroughs through this building before and we knew the challenges that would come. Today those came true.
Tim Olk photo
#1 by harry on July 22, 2018 - 9:30 PM
a very creative way well done guys such a shame thought that a cool landmark had to get destroyed
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#2 by Michael M on July 22, 2018 - 2:35 PM
My guess is the truck that could access the structure was from Bristol Wisconsin?
#3 by FFPMTom on July 22, 2018 - 12:55 PM
Joe Smith- Look up the address on Google or Apple maps, look at the satellite view, and you’ll see why they were using the boom lifts. There is no access, this guy built a moat around his house and that small quint in the pictures is the only thing they could get near the structure. These guys did a great job improvising and getting the job done. Also Joe, look at all the posts from the Prospect Heights fire, no shortage of Truck Companies. Too bad about the dog
#4 by David on July 22, 2018 - 12:44 PM
Really unusual job. Also sorry to hear that the yorkie didn’t make it, poor fella, 15 yrs old, he deserved a better fate than this.
#5 by Ray on July 22, 2018 - 10:25 AM
The apparatus could not access the property, that’s the reason for the lifts.
#6 by Chuck on July 21, 2018 - 9:40 PM
Somewhere Robert Quinn is smiling.
#7 by Joe Smith on July 21, 2018 - 8:21 PM
With chronic shortfalls in municipal budgets and companies being removed from service, this kind of improvisation may become more common.
#8 by Mike on July 21, 2018 - 5:40 PM
Using the boom lift is kind of how past commissioner Robert Quinn developed the snorkel for Chicago. He saw tree trimmers working from the bucket and put a hose and nozzle on it and there you have it.
#9 by Daniel Hynd on July 21, 2018 - 4:39 PM
Using a boom lift as a Tower ladder… That’s a first.