Video at fire scene after female teen was trapped by a spreading fire and rescued by Palatine firefighters.
Palatine police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 5:10 PM Monday to an apartment fire at 450 West Palatine Road Palatine, IL. Police arrived on the scene first and reported a confirmed fire. Flames were seen from outside the apartment, according to neighbors. A neighbor reported one child was believed to be inside the apartment. There were also reports of possible additional children inside the apartment.
First fire units on the scene reported smoke showing from the second floor. Heavy smoke was pushing out a front window. Firefighters and police confirmed one child was still unaccounted for. With reports of a girl still inside the apartment firefighters got on their hands and knees and charged into the apartment for a search of the girl. First they searched both bedrooms. Next, firefighters found the girl had retreated to a bathroom and closed the door. She was trapped inside the bathroom with the fire moving toward her. She was protected and carried out of the apartment with the fire at risk of flashing over with deadly consequences. The engine company firefighters extinguished the fire while the squad and truck companies worked the rescue, and brought the girl to paramedics waiting by the ambulance.
The fire was reported extinguished at about 5:21 p.m.
Firefighter/paramedics transported the girl to Northwest Community Hospital. Firefighters also searched adjacent apartments next to the affected apartment on the second floor and below the apartment. No other residents were found in the apartment.
The apartment was heavily damaged and deemed uninhabitable, but no other apartments were affected. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Palatine Fire Department and the damage is estimated at $75,000. At this fire, working smoke detectors are credited in helping alert occupants of neighboring apartments who promptly called 9-1-1 for assistance.
Rolling Meadows and Long Grove firefighters assisted Palatine firefighters.
Initially, the Illinois State Fire Marshal was called to the scene.
Map of area of apartment fire on West Palatine Road, Palatine
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