The Northbrook Fire Department responded to a reported fire in a third floor apartment behind Station 11 at 620 Ballantree Drive shortly after 6PM on Monday evening. Initially, the reports from police officers left fire officials to believe that it was a barbecue grill on a deck, but companies soon found fire inside the third floor unit. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 for the working fire, and multiple companies entered the building. Not long after they were inside the building, conditions deteriorated and an evacuation order was given. Heavy smoke pushed out of the building as it flashed, and a MABAS Box Alarm was requested as companies went defensive.

Units on the initial alarms included Northbrook Engines 11 and 10, Ambulance 11, Battalion 11, Tower 12, and Glencoe Engine 30. The Code 4 brought  Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Ambulance 52 and Northfield Truck 29. The box alarm added Glenview Truck 14, Wheeling Engine 42, Winnetka Engine 28, Prospect Heights Squad 9, and Highland Park Quint 33 in addition to companies for change of quarters.

A 2nd Alarm was requested shortly after the box and brought Highwood Truck 37, Deerfield Engine 20, Morton Grove Squad 4, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Truck 53, the Division Comm Van, and several chief officers.

The building had a mansard roof which masked a fair amount of fire and required extensive ventilation to extinguish all of it. Engines 11 and 32 had deck guns flowing, there were elevated master streams from Tower 12 and Truck 14 in addition to at least three hand lines.

Tim Olk arrived with the first-due companies and Larry Shapiro arrived after the box alarm. Both will have many images plus there will be a video from Larry.

Here are a few images that were submitted.

2nd Alarm building fire in Northbrook

Northbrook Tower 12 working from the D-side (south side). Larry Shapiro photo

2nd Alarm building fire in Northbrook

Glenview Truck 14 setting up to go to work. Larry Shapiro photo

2nd Alarm building fire in Northbrook

Glencoe Engine 30 with the deck gun at work plus Glencoe personnel manage a 2 1/2 inch line. Larry Shapiro photo

2nd Alarm building fire in Northbrook

Engine 11 using the deck gun and Tower 12. Larry Shapiro photo

2nd Alarm building fire in Northbrook

Northbrook Engine 11 flowing the deck gun in Sector A and Tower 12 on the D side. Larry Shapiro photo