Palatine police and firefighter/paramedics responded Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 2:25 p.m., to a report of a “wall smoking” at 2153 N. Heather Ln. in Palatine. The first Palatine Fire Department crews arrived on the scene at 2:32 p.m. and reported smoke showing from the 2149 unit in the 2-story, 5-unit townhouse building. The first ire companies forced entry into the unit and found a fire burning inside a wall. The call was upgraded to a working fire response, and firefighters pulled a hoseline into the unit to attack the fire, as other firefighters began to open the wall and ceiling to expose the hidden fire. Other fire crews forced entry into the other units in building, finding smoke in three other units. The 2155 unit, which adjoins the fire unit, was also found to have fire in the common wall which required firefighters to pull a hoseline into that unit as well and open the wall to expose and extinguish the fire. Occupants from all units could not be immediately accounted for, so firefighters searched the entire building to ensure that all residents had exited. No one was found in the building, but one dog was safely removed. Other crews laddered the building, provided for emergency medical coverage, ventilated smoke from the building and spread tarps in the affected units to protect furniture and other belongings from water and smoke damage. The fire was declared under control at 2:52 p.m. Firefighters continued to ventilate smoke and gases and perform salvage and overhaul activities for some time after that.
No civilians or firefighters were injured in the fire, which left two units uninhabitable. Damage estimates are not available at the time of this release, and the fire remains under investigation by Palatine Fire Department investigators.
The fire was fought by 23 firefighters, staffing three engines, two ladder trucks, one rescue squad and three ambulances which responded to the scene along with three command officers and two Fire Investigators.
Units from the Arlington Heights Fire Department and the Lake Zurich Fire District were among the responders to the scene as part of an automatic aid agreement. During the incident, a unit from the Rolling Meadows Fire Department stood by in a Palatine fire station to provide coverage for any additional calls. Palatine Police officers assisted at the scene with traffic and crowd control, and an inspector from Palatine Neighborhood Services also responded to evaluate the structure and units for habitability.
The fire is under investigation. There was a report of plumbers working in the building, but the cause of the fire has not yet been officially determined.
The Palatine Fire Department reminds everyone to have working smoke detectors in their homes, whether a single-family dwelling, an apartment or a condo. Have an escape plan, practice it, and be prepared to use it in
the event of any fire.
LIVE TRAFFIC MAP of location of a townhouse fire on Heather Lane near Nichols Road …
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