VIDEO: Firefighters in defensive mode immediately after arriving at a house fire on South Dunton Avenue with the second floor fully-involved.
Arlington Heights police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 3:00 AM Wednesday to a house fire in the block of 300 South Dunton Avenue Arlington Heights, IL. Police smelled a very strong odor of smoke about 3:00 a.m. at the police station near Arlington Heights Road and Sigwalt Street, and dispatched three patrol cars to investigate. Within minutes a police officer found a house with the second floor fully-involved with flames in the 300 block of South Dunton Avenue.
Firefighter/paramedics were dispatched and immediately went to work on defensive operation. The quick action of firefighters on the south side of the burning house prevented the exposed house to the south from catching on fire. The fire was too dangerous for firefighters to immediately enter the house, and part of a floor in the rear of the house collapse as firefighters arrived.
Winds were strong from the south at about 15 mph with gusts to 20 mph — helping fuel the fire. A thick, strong odor of smoke was detectable in neighborhoods north of the fire scene as far north as Thomas Street.
Firefighters found at least one victim unresponsive within about 15 minutes of arrival, and removed the victim out of a window on the north side of the house. Two more victims were found unresponsive inside the house. All three victims died, and all three victims are believed to be adults. Firefighters were still searching the house Wednesday for any possible additional victims in collapsed areas of the house. The Illinois State Fire Marshal was called to the scene, and arrived just before 5:00 a.m.
The house fire occurred two blocks east of South Middle School. Arlington Heights Police Department Headquarters, where police detected the heavy smoke odor, is about one block north and two blocks east of the fire scene.
No firefighters were reported injured in firefighting operations before 7:00 a.m.
Developing …
LIVE TRAFFIC MAP of area of house fire in the 300 block of South Dunton Avenue …
Firefighters working with a hose line on the south side of a house that was found burning by Arlington Heights police patrol officers. The quick action of firefighters on the south side of the burning house prevented the exposed house to the south from catching on fire.
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Since they were all on the first floor i’m really surprised they weren’t able to rescue any of them…
Thanks for sharing, good reminder to check your homeowners insurance coverage and additional living expense coverage.