Gurnee police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 12:00 PM Thursday to an Activated Fire Alarm with a call-in freport of a confirmed fire at Pinnacle Propane Express 3895 Clearview Ct, Gurnee, Il. Police and firefighter/paramedics received a report that some type of fire was occurring immediately after they received an Activated Fire Alarm.
The Activated fire alarm upgraded to a Working Fire Response immediately following the call from the employee.
Pinnacle Propane Express is described as a propane grill cylinder exchange business for retailers and distributors. The business has at least two 50 foot storage tanks on the property.
A MABAS Division 4 Box Alarm on Box #13-36 for a commercial building fire was activated at 12:29 pm.
Explosions shook the ground, and witnesses reported seeing propane cylinders flying into the air.
Police evacuated a radius ranging from one-half mile to one mile to one-and-one-half mile. A normal evacuation for a spill is one mile while a fire involving a large tank fire requires one mile.
Even firefighters are required to evacuate when uncontrollable flames impinge on a propane gas container as gas containers are capable of sudden rupture with explosion.
Dozens of explosions were heard as the fire alarm response was elevated to the Box Alarm at 12:29 pm, a 2nd Level Box Alarm at 12:40 pm, a Third Level Box Alarm at 12:45 pm, a Fifth Level Box Alarm at 1:04 pm, and a Seventh Level Box Alarm at 2:36 pm.
The Box Alarms were struck out at 4:20 p.m. with the fire under control.
Propane ignites at 940°F and large fires involving propane are usually allowed to burn until the source of propane is exhausted. Neighboring containers are kept cool with water streams to prevent auto-ignition of propane in neighboring tanks.
FIRE/MEDIC UNITS ASSIGNED …
ENGINE(S): E1311 E1312 Waukegan (unable)
TRUCK(S): TL1331
SQUAD(S): SQD ??
RIT: BC ?? T ??
CHIEF(S): BC1305
EMS: A1341 A ?
UNITS ASSIGNED …
ENGINE(S): Grayslake, Libertyville
TRUCK(S): Round Lake
SQUAD(S): Fox Lake
EMS: Lake Villa, Long Grove
CHIEF(S): Round Lake, Grayslake
SPECIAL: MESS Canteen, Comfort Bus Station
CHANGE OF QUARTERS:
STAGING: Clearview Ct and Northwestern Ave
2ND ALARM AT 12:40 PM
ENGINE(S): Mundelein, Beach Park
TRUCK(S):
SQUAD(S):
EMS:
CHIEF(S): Zion
SPECIAL: Command 2
CHANGE OF QUARTERS: North Chicago Engine
STAGING: Clearview Ct and Northwestern Ave
3RD ALARM AT 12:45 PM
ENGINE(S): Great Lakes, Highland Park
TRUCK(S): Countryside
SQUAD(S): Deerfield
EMS: Barrington
CHIEF(S): Beach Park
SPECIAL:
CHANGE OF QUARTERS:
STAGING: Clearview Ct and Northwestern Ave
5TH ALARM AT 1:04 PM
ENGINE(S): Antioch, Lake Zurich, Buffalo Grove, Pleasant Prairie
TRUCK(S): Lake Forest
SQUAD(S): McHenry
EMS: Spring Grove
CHIEF(S): Countryside
SPECIAL:
CHANGE OF QUARTERS:
7TH ALARM AT 02:36 PM
ENGINE(S): Knollwood, Bristol (Wisconsin), Lake Bluff
TRUCK(S): Wauconda
SQUAD(S):
EMS:
CHIEF(S):
See also …
CAMEO Chemicals “Propane”
cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/9018
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