Shortly after 8PM Wednesday evening, a caller reported a basement fire at 884 Swan Boulevard in unincorporated Lake County. The area off of Inverrary Road west of Milwaukee Avenue is covered by the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD, and there is only one point of access into and out of the subdivision.
First arriving units were greeted by the homeowner outside the unit with severed burns to both feet. They reported heavy smoke pushing out of the center unit and upgraded the alarm to a Code 4 (working fire) and then immediately to a Box Alarm. Lincolnshire-Riverwoods had two engines, a quint, three ambulances and two chief officers on the scene. Mutual aid with engines came from Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, and Northbrook. Squads came from Prospect Heights (RIT) and then from Loncolnshire-Riverwoods Station 51. Deerfield was at the scene with a truck, and additional ambulances came from Lake Zurich and Wheeling. Chief officers came from Long Grove, Prospect Heights, Deerfield, and Mundelein.
Lincolnshire-Riverwoods paramedics transferred patient care of the homeowner to the Wheeling ambulance, which transported to Condell Hospital. Two lines went into the fire unit and an additional line was pulled to an exposure unit, while Buffalo Grove firefighters went to the roof to ventilate. The fire was stopped quickly and contained to the unit of origin, but not before burning through the first floor ceiling to create a hole on the second floor. A dog perished in the fire.
The Mess Canteen was at the scene and setup near Lincolnshire-Riverwoods’ new dive/rehab unit.
Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were both at the scene. Images and a video from Larry are in this post and images from Tim are forthcoming.
View from the rear just after the interior companies hit the fire and took out the windows. Larry Shapiro
Light smoke escaping from the front door. Larry Shapiro photo
The burn victim is transferred to another ambulance. Larry Shapiro photo
Smoke escapes from the rear of the unit. Larry Shapiro photo
Lincolnshire firefighters are relieved after making the initial attack. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters vent the roof. Larry Shapiro photo
Engine 52 had several lines off. Larry Shapiro photo
Truck 53 laddered the roof. Larry Shapiro photo
Buffalo Grove firefighters venting the roof. Larry Shapiro photo
Lincolnshire Engine 52 was the first-in engine. Larry Shapiro photo
The MESS Canteen was at the scene. Larry Shapiro photo
Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD Truck 53. Larry Shapiro photo
LRFPD Dive/Rehab 51 was the base for rehab. Larry Shapiro photo
The first floor of the unit after overhaul. Larry Shapiro photo
A gallery with more fire images is at shapirophotography.net.
