Firefighter checking for smoke and heat source using a thermal image camera.
Arlington Heights firefighter/paramedics and police responded about 6:03 p.m. Monday to a report of smoke in a house in the 900 block of North Chestnut Avenue. Firefighters received a report of smoke in the first floor and second floor.
Upon arrival firefighters were working on the assumption that they might have a fire hidden in the walls. Firefighters checked the entire house and attic, but found an extension cord behind an aquarium that was smoking. A neighbor said the extension cord was possibly overloaded.
While firefighters were searching the house, the circuit box was checked, and a circuit breaker was popped. A short time later the overheated extension cord was discovered as the source of the smoke. Since the circuit breaker popped, it apparently stopped current and heat at the extension cord, and prevented ignition of the cord and nearby materials.
Firefighters ventilated the house, clearing smoke, for about one hour.
Firefighters watching for signs of smoke increasing.
Become a fan of the Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
