A few images from the house fire in Kildeer, 12-1-21 by Larry Shapiro
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
In the darkness that comes earlier these days, flames lit up the sky for miles in Kildeer following a massive fire.
A multi-story home caught fire and is uninhabitable. The structure may be a total loss. The size of the fire necessitated a mutual aid response from a dozen neighboring communities. Firefighters used a dry hydrant where water is pulled from retention ponds because there are no fire hydrants in the area.
Lake Zurich Fire Chief David Pilgrad says that given the flames’ intensity, the exterior side of one of the adjacent homes had to be drenched as a precaution.
Everyone made it out of the home safely and did not require emergency care or hospitalization. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
#1 by Bill on December 11, 2021 - 2:13 PM
It is real easy to spend someone elses money as a public employee.
#2 by Austin on December 3, 2021 - 3:17 PM
One problem is developers. A lot of them balk at having sprinklers and tell towns that it will hurt growth. This was a big argument in Campton Hills years ago, and developers came out in droves to say its bad. I can’t remember anymore if the ordinance passed or not. Another on going battle is in Honolulu, and the city and county of Honolulu is facing major opposition form condo boards. The law there is every building that doesn’t have them (over a certain size) has to install them. This was passed by the council after one of the biggest fires in Hawaii history, the Marco Polo condo tower 3 or 4 years ago. People are just cheap, and have no desire or don’t care about the benefits.
#3 by Drew Smith on December 2, 2021 - 9:41 PM
The cost of a residential sprinkler system for a 4000 to 5000 square-foot home is actually closer to $12,000 not $20,000
#4 by Drew Smith on December 2, 2021 - 9:39 PM
People will build a house that cost over $700,000 and squawk at $20,000 for a residential sprinkler system. They spend three times the amount of a sprinkler system on their floor coverings which will need to be refinished or replaced every so often. Some people think smoke alarms are good enough. Smoke alarms do nothing to stop the fire. A smoke alarm does not help the very young, the very old, and those with special needs remove the hazard or themselves from the hazard.
#5 by John on December 2, 2021 - 8:29 PM
A lot of people are afraid they’ll go off by themselves and flood everything,too. The message is not getting through,even among contractors.
#6 by Retired FF on December 2, 2021 - 3:50 PM
It’s not that they don’t care, it’s that they, along with the politicians need to be educated. I had a discussion with a person from a village on residential systems, and all he could talk about was the cost. The department did nothing to teach him about the value of them.
#7 by Mike on December 2, 2021 - 3:32 PM
All that money for that house and still no residential sprinkler system. People never learn or they just don’t care.