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Posts Tagged townhouse fire in Cedar Run

Wheeling Townhouse Fire 4-3-12

Apr 4

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News | Comments off

The Wheeling Fire Department received a call around 9:15PM reporting a fire in one unit of a four unit townhouse at 1315 Exeter Court. A workman had been sweating pipes and fire broke out in the 2nd floor bathroom of a unit under renovation. Before firefighters arrived, the police department advised of one fully involved unit in the building. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 Working Fire while units were still en-route. The initial response was reduced as both Wheeling ambulances were tied up so Buffalo Grove and Arlington Heights were called for ambulances prior to the Code 4 upgrade.

Larry Shapiro got to the scene with the first units and submitted several images and a video.

Wheeling Fire Department townhouse fire 1315 Exeter Court IL 4-3-12

Firefighters make their initial entry through the front door of the fire unit. Immediately inside the door is a set of stairs leading to the living quarters which are entirely on the second floor. Larry Shapiro photo

When the confirmed fire report came in from the police on-scene and the alarm was elevated, this brought Buffalo Grove Tower 25, Arlington Heights Engine 4, and Northbrook Engine and Ambulance 10 in addition to two Wheeling engines and the Wheeling truck that were already en-route.

Smoke pushes out of the attic and second floor as firefighters hit the fire in the bathroom. This was ignited by a worker sweating pipes while remodeling. Larry Shapiro photo

The driver of Engine 42 pulls 5" hose from the bed as another firefighter drags the line to a hydrant. Larry Shapiro photo

Low hanging smoke permeated a large section of the housing complex making it initially difficult for the first engine to locate the fire building. As they got to the building, heavy smoke was filling the entire unit and fire was visible through the roof near the bathroom vent. The workers were attempting to extinguish the fire with a garden hose when firefighters arrived.

Flames are visible burning through the roof above a second floor bathroom. Two separate units accessible from this side of the building have first and second floor living space. Larry Shapiro photo

Wheeling Fire Department townhouse fire 1315 Exeter Court IL 4-3-12 Northbrook Fire Department

A Northbrook firefighter stretches a third line which will be used to protect an exposure unit if the fire spreads. Larry Shapiro photo

Wheeling Fire Department townhouse fire 1315 Exeter Court IL 4-3-12 Sutphen engine

Three lines were stretched from this engine though only two were charged. The third line was ready to use in an adjacent unit but was not needed. Larry Shapiro photo

The damage here illustrates that if the call for the fire department would have been delayed, the fire would have spread to the adjacent units. The garden hose that was used by the workers is visible over the balcony railing in this image. Larry Shapiro photo

Two lines were used and firefighters did extensive overhaul in several of the attached units while checking for extension.

Additional images can be seen HERE.

Tags: handyman starts fire sweating pipes, heavy smoke at townhouse fire, Larry Shapiro, plumber starts fire sweating pipes, PPV used at fire scene, townhouse fire in Cedar Run, Wheeling Fire Department

Wheeling Box Alarm 8-22-11

Aug 22

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News | Comments off

The Wheeling Fire Department received a call around 2:30AM from a townhouse resident reporting smoke in their building on Fall Court in the Cedar Run development. The building houses four units, two of which were vacant at the time. Wheeling Police arrived on the scene and reported flames visible on the west side of the building. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 working fire prior to companies arriving on the scene, which added units from Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, and Long Grove.

Wheeling Fire Department townhouse fire 8-22-11 Fall Court

A firefighter prepares to enter the second floor unit on Fall Court in Wheeling after the fire was knocked down. Larry Shapiro photo

Engine 24 was the first fire unit on the scene and pulled into the dead-end court. Engine 23 arrived and took a hydrant to supply Engine 24. The fire unit, which was in foreclosure, was a second floor unit with a private entrance with stairs on the west side of the building. Firefighters knocked down the initial fire in the doorway and attempted to enter the foyer to get upstairs but had to retreat as the stairs were burned through. They entered the second floor from a ground ladder and hit the remaining fire noting that an area of the kitchen floor had been compromised and there was still fire beneath the floor.

Buffalo Grove firefighters force the door to a neighboring unit in the same building as the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Wheeling firefighters cut through the overhead door to gain access to the garage. Larry Shapiro photo

The alarm was elevated to a Box Alarm when all of the companies were working and there was a fear that fire was running the outside wall and might involve the common attic space. Additional units responded from Deerfield, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine, Northbrook, and Prospect Heights, but these units were released soon after they arrived on the scene as the fire did not spread beyond the initial unit.

Firefighters were forced to access the second floor unit from a ground ladder as the stairway was compromised. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro went to the scene and arrived shortly after the bulk of the fire had been extinguished. He submitted several images and has a gallery with more photos HERE.