Updated images from Karl Klotz of the current Highwood Fire Department apparatus including new striping.
Highwood Truck 37 with new striping after having some body work done. Karl Klotz photo
New decal for Truck 37.
Highwood Battalion 37 is a 1999 Chevy Tahoe (X-Northbrook FD). Karl Klotz photo
Highwood Engine 37 is a 1987 Pierce Lance 1250/500 (X-Northfield Squad 29). Karl Klotz photo
Highwood Ambulance 37 with new striping. Karl Klotz photo
Park Ridge Engine 35 and Tower 36 were in front of the building. The tower was used as a stand-pip for the attack line. Larry Shapiro photo
Shortly before 11AM this morning, the Park Ridge Fire Department received an automatic fire alarm in a four-story apartment building at 500 Thames Parkway. While in route, they received a phone call reporting a fire on the top floor. The alarm was immediately upgraded to a working fire, and upon arrival to a MABAS Box Alarm when Battalion 35 saw the fire blowing out of the top floor unit in the rear. The building has three floors with 10 units per floor. A 2nd Alarm was requested within minutes of the Box Alarm and an EMS Box Alarm was struck as a precaution due to the number of occupants.
The fire unit was in the rear of the building on the top floor. Steve Redick photo
The building is without a stand-pipe system, and Park Ridge companies took a 2 1/2-inch high-rise pack in to the building which was fed to the basket of Tower 36 through a top floor window. They made entry into the fire unit with this line and darkened the bulk of the fire.
The deck gun on DesPlaines Engine 62 was used to knock down the exterior mansard roof that was on fire prior to establishing a positive water supply. Steve Redick photo
DesPlaines Engine 62 was in the rear and was instructed to put their deck-gun to work to knock down exterior fire on the mansard roof.
Morton Grove Engine (Quint) 4 was used as the first aerial device in the rear.
Morton Grove was due on the Box Alarm with Squad 4. The squad is out-of-service and they responded with the quint instead and were put right to work. Steve Redick photo
The fire was contained to the unit of origin with minor damage to the neighboring apartments.
After the fire had been extinguished, hot spots lingered in several areas of the mansard roof before companies had a chance to tear it apart and get at everything inside. Larry Shapiro photo
A line was stretched up the ladder of Engine 4 to provide water to companies on the roof that were addressing the remaining fire in the mansard roof. Larry Shapiro photo
Tim Olk, Steve Redick, and Larry Shapiro took in the fire and have submitted images from the scene.
A firefighter on the roof work to gain access to the mansard parapet to get at the fire within. Tim Olk photo
A Morton Grove firefighter works on the mansard as the crew from Niles Truck 2 works on an adjoining wall. Tim Olk photo
A Park Ridge firefighter disconnects the attack line from the tower ladder. Tim Olk photo
Niles Truck 2 went to the roof on the 'B' side of the building. Larry Shapiro photo
Norwood Park, Skokie, and Schiller Park were some of the mutual aid companies that responded to Park Ridge. Larry Shapiro photo
The MABAS Division 3 'Comm 3' responded to the scene along with four chiefs as part of an IMAT. Larry Shapiro photo
A firefighter works on overhaul in the fire unit. Tim Olk photo
Tim’s gallery is HERE, Steve’s gallery is HERE, and Larry’s gallery is HERE.
Additionally, Steve created a video from the scene.
May 10
The Highland Park Fire Department received a call for an attic fire shortly after 7PM on Monday in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road. When police arrived at the house they reported fire through the roof of a large, three-story, brick home. The alarm was elevated to a working fire response while companies were en-route to the scene bringing mutual aid from Glencoe, Deerfield, and Highwood. First-in companies made an aggressive attack but had trouble gaining access to the attic space. Further complications were encountered by the multiple roof elevations. The fire was raised to a 2nd Alarm bringing engines from Northbrook, Winnetka, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood. Additional trucks came from Northfield and Wheeling. Wilmette responded with a squad, and ambulances on-scene were from Highland Park, Highwood, Prospect Heights, and Libertyville.
Heavy smoke billows from the attic space above the third floor of this large home in Highland Park. Tim Olk photo
Flames are visible from the attic above the third floor. Highwood was the first truck on the scene and backed Truck 37, a 75' HME/Smeal quint into the driveway opposite of Highland Park Engine 32. Larry Shapiro photo
Highland Park Engine 32, a 2010 Spartan Gladiator/Crimson engine was the first fire unit on the scene. They took the south end of the driveway and tapped a hydrant directly across the street. Larry Shapiro photo
Fire was most prevalent in the rear of the house. As fire burns through the eaves, a firefighter is able to stand where the roof has burned away in another section of the upper floor. Tim Olk photo
Another image showing the same area with heavy fire at the roof's peak. Tim Olk photo
As fire continues to burn along the peak of the roof, the Highwood master stream is opened to hit the fire where firefighters can not gain access from within. Larry Shapiro photo
The fire was held to the upper floors though water and smoke permeated the entire house. Northfield’s truck was setup as a precaution but did not go to work.
Tim Olk and Larry Shapiro both went to the scene and submitted several images. Tim has a gallery HERE and Larry has a gallery HERE.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
