Des Plaines firefighters were called to a house at 555 Leahy Circle East late Friday night for a fire in the basement. A header was visible while units were en route and the alarm was upgraded to a working fire before arrival. Dispatch advised of hoarder conditions at the residence which was confirmed on arrival by the first company officer walking around the exterior. The residents were already out of the house and firefighters had difficulty entering the premises. Several vent holes were cut in the roof before companies were ordered off and then out of the structure for setting up a defensive posture. The basement fire traveled to the second floor and areas of the first floor had been compromised. Hand lines were directed through windows and doorways but it remained difficult to reach the seat of the fire due to the clutter.

The incident was upgraded to a Box Alarm for additional resources after withdrawing personnel from the interior. Eventually lines were shut down to let the fire burn until it was visible and accessible from the outside and then companies again attacked the flames.  One tower ladder was utilized with a ground level master stream through the front door and living room before it was able to be positioned above the house with access to the fire that vented through the roof. Hand lines were deployed on all sides of the house.

The bulk of the fire was contained by 4AM with companies working at the scene for several more hours.

All Des Plaines units were at the scene along with mutual aid from Prospect Heights, Mount Prospect, The North Maine FPD, Elk Grove Township FPD, Wheeling, Park Ridge, Chicago Squad 7, Rosemont, Bensenville, and Glenview.

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

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