VIDEO: Basement fire extinguished in large two-story wood frame home on North Highland Avenue at Vine Street.
Arlington Heights police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 4:19 PM Sunday to a house fire in the 700 block of North Highland Avenue. Police and firefighter/paramedics received a report that a house was filling up with smoke, and all the power was out. Firefighters were on the scene in about three minutes and reported no smoke showing.
Firefighters reported smoke in the house about 4:25 p.m. Engine 2 and Squad 2 crews were assigned to fire attack, and Tower 1 crew was assigned as the ventilation group. Engine 4 connected the hydrant and Command wanted to know early whether Engine 2 observed smoke in the basement. Engine 2 reported smoke, but no fire on the first and second floors; then asked for a second line at the rear entrance. Command called out a working basement fire at about 4:27 p.m. The basement fire served difficult conditions because of high entrances into the house and several turns for the hoses.
Reserve Ambulance 1 set up for rehab. Rolling Meadows Engine 15 was the RIT crew (Rapid Intervention Team).
Smoke conditions were changing to black at about 4:43 p.m. Engine 2 requested another hose line to reach all the way to the fire, as their hose line — with all the turns they made from the front — had trouble getting to the fire in the basement. Firefighters on the first floor reported heat buildup at the front of the house, but normal heat at the rear of the house. A PAR check (Personnel Accountability Record) was all good at about 4:44 p.m.
Engine 3 crew was advancing their line (the third line into the house) directly to the fire from the rear entrance to the house.
The Safety Officer also reported smoke conditions changing (for the worst) at about 4:45 p.m., but then reported water on the fire at about 4:46 p.m. Squad 1 joined RIT crew and Engine 4 came out of the basement because of low air at about 4:49 p.m. Engine 3 crew was now the only crew in the basement, and was applying water on the fire. The fire was reported extinguished at about 4:50 p.m.
No reports of any injuries.
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