3 People Rescued from Apartment Building
Apartment Fire: Rescue from 3rd floor apartment window by Arlington Heights Fire Department Tower 1 crew.
Police and firefighter/paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 11:17 p.m. Wednesday March 4, 2020 to a report of an electrical fire, and then flames showing.
Engine 2’s crew on arrival reported flames showing, and went to work to knock back the fire with an exterior attack. Flames were showing from a window of a second floor apartment on the east side of the building. Flames were knocked back and firefighters moved to an interior attack, climbing stairs near the front entrance.
The majority of the fire was knocked by 11:29 p.m. The fire started in the
Smoke from 3-story apartment with interior attack.
Engine 4’s crew and Rolling Meadows Truck 15’s crew took positions at the rear of the building on Miner Street.
Most people were evacuated. but two or three people were rescued — one from the rear of the building at the northeast corner, and one from the front of the building. A victim trapped by smoke and called 9-1-1 to say he was still trapped by smoke. Squad 1’s crew firefighter met with the victim on the third floor.
Squad 1’s crew reported a victim on the third floor that was conscious and alert and walking at about 11:32 p.m.
Firefighters also spotted a victim at the northeast corner waving a towel, and requested a roof ladder to the rear of the building. The female victim was rescued out of a third floor window by 11:35 p.m.
Primary searches were underway on the fire floor by 11:36 p.m.
The victim on the third floor came to the window to get fresh air, and was struggling with the smoke. A firefighter wearing Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus helped him from the inside while a Tower 1 crew member gave him a hand and helped him climb out of the window into the safety of Tower 1’s basket. He was transferred to the basket of Tower 1 by about 11:36 p.m. He was assessed by paramedics, but refused transportation to the hospital.
One person was rescued by the main aerial of Tower 1’s basket from the front, and one or two patients were rescued by roof ladder(s) from the rear.
A total of four patients were were assessed by paramedics. Two made it across the street on their own on the south side of Northwest Highway.
Ultimately one patient was transported to Northwest Community Hospital. The condition of the patient transported was unknown.
Mount Prospect Tower 13 was assigned as the Rapid Intervention Team at the fire scene.
Firefighters began checking for extension of the fire at about 11:33 p.m.
Firefighters’ fast and skilled actions saved the apartment building from going to an extra alarm fire — exceptional because firefighters were also managing rescues. Often rescue efforts take resources away from fighting the fire, which gives the fire a chance to spread.
Smoke detectors alerted residents, and the early detection of the fire helped because firefighters were able to respond before the fire spread beyond the apartment where the fire began. The resident in the apartment where the fire began was at home at the time of the fire.
Over 10 residents live in the apartment building, and all residents are temporarily displaced. Two businesses on the first floor include Downton Mediaworks — a video production company; and a State Farm insurance office. One or both business — most likely the insurance office — likely received some water damage.
ComEd cut power to building on all floors.
The information in this article is an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police or fire authorities.
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