Schaumburg Engine 53 and Truck 52 are deployed in the 'A Sector' in front of 808 Holyoke Court. Larry Shapiro photo
The Schaumburg Fire Department received a call reporting a house fire around 4:30AM. The homeowner reportedly left something unattended on the stove which ignited. The fire spread quickly and one resident fleeing the house had to wake a neighbor in order to notify the fire department. Upon arrival, first units were met by heavy smoke escaping from the front door of the split level house at 808 Holyoke Court. The smoke stayed low in the cul-de-sac and enveloped the engine in front of the house. Fire involved the entire first floor as the first line was advanced and the shift commander upgraded the alarm to a MABAS Box Alarm within minutes. The rear of the house was fully involved and fire travelled to the second floor and into the attic.
An overview shows the location of the house in the cul-de-sac with limited access for apparatus. Larry Shapiro photo
Fire vents through the attic as companies work on the second floor to pull ceilings and hit the fire. A RIT stands by in the foreground. Larry Shapiro photo
Access was hampered for companies as the stairway burned through which required the deployment of almost a dozen ground ladders around the house. Companies were initially ordered to work off the ladders to pull ceiling for access to the attic fire until they were able to enter the second floor and work from inside the house. Multiple hand lines were deployed from all sides of the house.
Ground ladders were placed at all second floor windows and at opposite corners of the roof for access and egress. Larry Shapiro photo
Both occupants escaped safely but a dog perished in the fire. The temperature at the time of the fire was in the mid 20s causing water on the ground to freeze.
Larry Shapiro made it to the scene roughly 30 minutes into the alarm and submitted several photos and a video. A complete photo gallery is available HERE.
Schaumburg Engine 53, a 2000 E-ONE Hurricane was the first engine on the scene. Larry Shapiro photo
A firefighter from Schaumburg Engine 51 exits the house. Larry Shapiro photo
A view after the fire was knocked down shows the extent of the fire damage throughout the house. Larry Shapiro photo
Elk Grove Truck 7 was one of the mutual aid companies on the Box Alarm. Larry Shapiro photo
Mutual aid companies to the scene included trucks from Hoffman Estates and Elk Grove Village, engines from Streamwood and Hanover Park, ambulances from Elk Grove Township, Palatine Rural, and Prospects Heights, and chief officers from Itasca and Hoffman Estates.
