Firefighters complete roof ventilation as others inspect the living room after the fire was declared under control. Larry Shapiro photo
In a neighborhood that sustained heavy storm damage and was still without power two nights after a huge storm system brought a tornado through Mt. Prospect, a house fire was reported around 9PM. Neighbors reported smoke coming from the ranch house at 601 N. Elmhurst Avenue, (which is four streets west of Elmhurst Road/Route 83) at the corner of west Highland Street.
Mt Prospect Tower 13, a Pierce Velocity, was setup in front of the house on Highland and provided lighting for the firefighters that were working on the roof. Larry Shapiro photo
Mt Prospect Engine 13 was around the corner on Elmhurst with two lengths of LDH to the hydrant on the opposite corner. Larry Shapiro photo
Companies could have had difficulty getting a secure water supply if they had encountered a hydrant like this one on the next block. Larry Shapiro photo
Initial reports were that a dog was in the house and that the residents were not at home. Engine 14 arrived moments before Tower 13 and found fire venting through windows on the east side of the house. The Code 3 was upgraded to a Code 4 bringing mutual aid companies from Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights, and Des Plaines to the scene in addition to change companies covering the Mt Prospect stations.
Off-duty personnel brought the Mt Prospect Squad to the scene to fill air bottles. Larry Shapiro photo
Fire was blowing out the east side of the house when companies arrived. Larry Shapiro photo
The fire was knocked down in under 15 minutes and the out of town units were released shortly thereafter. Both sides of each street throughout the neighborhood were lined with tree limbs and other storm related debris.
Throughout the entire neighborhood, storm damage was apparent overhead. Larry Shapiro photo
Debris from the storm two nights earlier lined both sides of each street in this neighborhood. Larry Shapiro photo
A large tree lays across a hydrant around the corner from the house fire. The first engine had to keep an eye out for a hydrant that was not obstructed. Larry Shapiro photo
