Excerpts from positivelynaperville.com:
At 3:41AM on Mon., June 3, 2024, Naperville’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call reporting an outside smoke investigation in the area of 75th St. and Wehrli Road. A single engine was dispatched to the area of 75th and Wehrli to investigate.
Multiple callers began reporting that they saw fire in the area. Naperville Engine 2 arrived on the scene, reported a fully involved structure fire, and requested an upgrade to a general alarm at 3:51AM which consist of three engines, two ladder trucks, one heavy rescue squad, two medic units, and two battalion commanders. The structure was a large, wood-framed, vacant, single-family residence in the 700 block of 24W. 75th St.
First-arriving companies completed a 360-degree survey of the structure, provided an on-scene report, established command, and began fire operations. Engine 2 also reported restricted access due to heavy overgrowth of trees and brush surrounding the home.
Due to the heavy fire on all floors and through the roof of the structure as well as the limited access, companies on scene began defensive operations with multiple large-diameter handlines and an aerial master stream in a coordinated effort to bring the fire under control within 90 minutes. Units remained on the scene for another three hours to extinguish spot fires and conduct overhaul operations.
The Naperville Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the Naperville Police Department, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, Commonwealth Edison, and the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District. The Aurora Fire Department and Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District provided station coverage for Naperville during the incident.
There was one minor injury to a firefighter who was evaluated and released.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and damages to the home are estimated at $300,000. The house was deemed to be uninhabitable.
Scott A. Salela, most recently the division chief of support services with the Naperville Fire Department, will succeed Mike McGreal as the new chief of the Wheeling Fire Department.
