Upon arrival, fire companies were met by a large fire on the exterior of the townhouse that had communicated into the unit. Larry Shapiro photo

The Wheeling Fire Department received multiple calls shortly before 11PM reporting a fire along the outside wall of a four-unit townhouse on Ottawa Court in the Tahoe Village complex. Upon the arrival of police officers, the address was corrected to 573 Custer Court. The response was upgraded to a Code 4 working fire before the first fire units arrived on the scene based on the calls that were coming into the dispatch center. Companies arrived to find heavy fire that had full control of the exterior wall and had communicated into the first and second floors in addition to the attic. Mutual aid companies reported seeing the header against the dark sky from several miles away.

Before a permanent water supply could be established, firefighters used tank water to knock down the exterior fire. Larry Shapiro photo

All of the residents were out of the building when the fire department arrived and went to work. There was an initial concern about the establishment of a permanent water supply and the alarm was quickly upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm and then to a second alarm. Heavy fire initially kept companies from entering the unit. later, a mayday was called for a firefighter working on the second floor. He sustained a knee injury but was able to exit the building on his own and later refused medical treatment on the scene.

Firefighters use a hand line to darken the fire on the exterior in the 'C' Sector. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire was held to the end unit with the neighboring unit sustaining some minor smoke damage and drywall damage from companies checking for extension. Apparently the homeowner had been cooking in a smoker along the exterior wall which is believed to be the cause of the fire.

The fire had a hold on the attic of the end unit but was knocked down before it could communicate to the next unit. Larry Shapiro photo

Mutual aid was from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, and Long Grove on the Code 4 alarm. The Box Alarm brought Rolling Meadows, Des Plaines, Prospect Heights, North Maine, Glenview, Northbrook, and Elk Grove Township. The 2nd Alarm brought companies from Morton Grove, Niles, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Deerfield, and Northfield.

Firefighters perform overhaul on the exterior of the unit near the point of origin. A gas grille and a smoker were stored in this area and the smoker was reportedly being used too close to the structure. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk both took in the fire. Larry submitted several images and has a gallery HERE. Tim has a gallery HERE.

Tags: 2-11 alarm fire, Larry Shapiro, MABAS Box Alarm, structure fire, Tim Olk, townhouse fire, Wheeling Fire Department