A Prospect Heights homeowner called at roughly 6:20PM to report smoke in the house at 415 Cherry Creek Lane. As this street is on the northern edge of the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District, the first unit to arrive was Arlington Heights Engine 4. They reported light smoke showing and pulled a line. Prospect Heights units arrived within minutes with Engine 39, Squad 9, Tanker 9, and Battalion 9.
Smoke is visible after initial companies arrived. Larry Shapiro photo
A ladder is raised to the second floor window. Larry Shapiro photo
View from the A-B corner. Larry Shapiro photo
The house is located in a cul-de-sac at the end of the street, in an area without fire hydrants. Long Grove Tanker 55 was also en route as part of the Code 3 automatic aid dispatch, as well as Wheeling Engine 23 and Battalion 24, plus Palatine Ambulance 83. The alarm was upgraded immediately to a Code 4 for the working fire which brought Northbrook Tower 12, Palatine Rural Tanker 36, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Squad 51, Glenview Ambulance 8, and Mt. Prospect Engine 14.
Tanker 9 gets a line from Tanker 55. Larry Shapiro photo
Arlington Heights Engine 4 with multiple lines off. Larry Shapiro photo
Tanker 9 supplying Engine 4. The rear tag axle is capable of steering. Larry Shapiro photo
Before Engine 4 used their 500 gallons, Tanker 9 was nursing them with a 3,000-gallon tank that was supplemented quickly by another 3,000 gallons from Tanker 55. The nearest hydrant was across Hintz Road in Wheeling, 1/2 a mile away. As the nursing operation was underway, Squad 9 dropped their full bed consisting of 1,500′ of 5″ and then Engine 39 dropped another 700′. Since this supply line crossed Hintz Road, the police department activated an ILEAS Box Alarm for additional police units from Mt. Prospect, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, and Northbrook.
Firemen prepare an additional hand line as the fire vents through the roof. Larry Shapiro photo
A fireman gets his air cylinder changed out. Larry Shapiro photo
Fire burns through a vent hole above the garage. Larry Shapiro photo
Companies made an interior attack on the fire which was reportedly in a closet area and communicated to multiple levels of attic space. Heavy smoke pushed from the ridge vent, windows, and eaves. A vent hole was cut in the roof over the garage which allowed heavy fire to escape.
Tower 12 prepares to deploy. Larry Shapiro photo
Scene in the cul-de-sac showing two tankers, the tower and an engine. Larry Shapiro photo
View from the B-C corner. Larry Shapiro photo
The alarm was upgraded to a Box Alarm as conditions began to deteriorate. Additional companies included a quint from Palatine, a tower ladder from Buffalo Grove, a Deerfield squad, a Morton Grove squad that was running as Niles Service Truck 2, a tanker from Elk Grove Township, engines from Des Plaines and North Maine. Chief officers arriving on various alarms included Niles Battalion 2 (for North Maine Battalion 1), Glenview Battalion 6, Northbrook 1100, Wheeling 2400, and Long Grove 5500 in addition to Prospect Heights Chief 900 and 901.
5″ large diameter hose in the street. Larry Shapiro photo
Prospect Heights Engine 39 on a hydrant at the far end of 2200′ of large diameter hose. Larry Shapiro photo
The interior crews were able to knock down the fire preventing an evacuation and subsequent defensive attack. Most of the box alarm companies were not used.