Firefighters apply foam to the garage area to contend with fuel leaking from the car. Larry Shapiro photo
The Schaumburg Fire Department received calls of a car on fire in an attached garage around 4PM this afternoon. First arriving companies found heavy fire venting from the garage and the second floor above. The volume of fire was reminiscent of another house fire for the same shift in Schaumburg two weeks ago. The alarm was immediately upgraded from a Code 3 to a Code 4 and the first two engines were instructed to lay dual lines to the front of the house. A Box Alarm was transmitted for change of quarters companies only as Battalion 5 requested the remaining Schaumburg suppression units to the scene. The threat of extension to the exposure on the west side of the house at 233 Kingsport Drive was severe though companies were able to keep the fire from impinging on the neighbor’s house.
Schaumburg Truck 53 is deployed to give firefighters access to the burned out second floor and roof area. Larry Shapiro photo
Schaumburg Engine 1 was in front of the house with several hand lines off including a foam line. Larry Shapiro photo
Schaumburg Squad 55's rig was down today so the squad company ran with the spare tower ladder. Quite an unusual scene is pictured here with three Schaumburg trucks at the fire. Larry Shapiro photo
The Daily Herald has an article HERE. According to the article, the homeowner was of aware of the fire.
Annarella, who had lived in that Schaumburg house since Dec. 14, 1978, was in her kitchen when she heard someone pounding on the front door alerting her to a roaring fire inside the attached garage.
“It was Ruth and Skip Barchfeld,” she said. “They saved my life. They are the heroes.”
Annarella safely bolted from the house, but could do little to stop the flames.
Companies applied foam to the garage and car within as leaking fuel was prevalent.
Engine 51 runs with a 2008 Pierce Impel shown here on a hydrant in front of the house. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro went to the scene and arrived after the fire was knocked down. He submitted several images and has a gallery HERE.
Damage to the house was extensive as can be seen here during the overhaul phase. Larry Shapiro photo
