Wheeling firefighters prepare to make entry into a house at 226 S. Fletcher Drive. Larry Shapiro photo

The Wheeling Fire Department received a call reporting a dryer fire this morning at 226 S. Fletcher Drive in their town. First arriving units reported light smoke showing. When they surveyed the house they noted active fire inside. Battalion 24 upgraded the alarm to a Code 4 which requested mutual aid from Buffalo Grove (Tower 25), Arlington Heights (Engine 4) and Long Grove (Ambulance 55). As the first engine company stretched a line and prepared to make entry into the 50×25 ranch house, the fire flashed. Crews were able to extinguish the bulk of the fire within minutes and then hit hot spots and performed overhaul. There were no injuries.

Firefighters had to navigate through the remnants of 20" of standing snow on the ground from the blizzard that hit the Chicago area last week. Larry Shapiro photo

A flashover occurred as firefighters prepared to take a line through the front door of the house. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro arrived on the scene behind the first companies and submitted the following images and video. A complete gallery of images can be seen HERE.

The house was virtually obscured for a short time by thick black smoke before water was put on the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Heavy fire was venting out of the living room window as the first line went through the door. Larry Shapiro photo

The Daily Herald has and article HERE.

In the five to seven minutes that passed before crews arrived, the heat caused most of the house to “auto-ignite,” Battalion Chief Dave Palmeri said. Firefighters had the blaze under control within 10 minutes.

Tags: Arlington Heights Fire Department, Buffalo Grove Fire Department, flashover, house fire, Larry Shapiro, Long Grove Fire Protection District, Wheeling Fire Department