firefighters let vacant house burn « chicagoareafire.com

This from Larry Shapiro:

Just before 7PM, the Lake Zurich Fire Department received a report of a house fire in the 26000 block of N. Fairfield Road in Hawthorn Woods. The first engine on scene reported smoke and fire from a two-story vacant frame house. Companies were instructed to remain outside of the structure and initiate a defensive attack. A box alarm was struck and the 2nd engine laid a supply line from the long gravel driveway to the street to prepare for tanker operations. A 2nd alarm for tankers only was requested shortly thereafter and the fire was largely knocked down quickly. Companies made a search of the building but it was deemed unsafe to remain inside to fully extinguish the fire and perform overhaul. A decision was made to standby outside as the fire grew and eventually demolished the structure.

The fire department was called to the same address less than a year ago for a fire in another vacant structure on the same property.

Four tankers responded and shuttled water to sustain hand lines used at various times throughout the 3+ hour incident. Companies on the scene included all four engines from Lake Zurich, a truck from Wauconda, engines from Palatine, Long Grove, Fox River Grove, and Palatine Rural (they were due with a tanker which is currently out of service). Tankers came from Cary, Fox Lake, Round Lake, and Nunda. Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Barrington, and Libertyville had ambulances on the scene along with the MESS Canteen.

The 2nd alarm was struck out after 2 1/2 hours, although companies remained on the scene and began to extinguish the remaining fire and begin overhaul after that.

I have photos and video showing the progression of the fire which eventually involved the whole house. Here are a few images with more to follow plus the video.