Palatine Fire Department responded about 11:01 a.m. Monday, December 17, 2012 to a report of a fire in the area of Long Valley Drive and Rand Road in unincorporated Palatine.
Numerous calls reporting the fire were received from passers-by. The fire was determined to be located at 1213 Long Valley Drive in the Long Valley Apartments complex. The first Palatine Fire Department crews arrived on the scene and reported smoke showing from a ground floor apartment in the 3-story, 6-unit apartment building. The first fire companies attacked the fire with a 1 3⁄4” hose line from the exterior to knock down the main body of fire, then forced entry into the affected unit, where they encountered a considerable amount of smoke and heat throughout the unit. At the same time, other firefighters removed a resident from a third-floor apartment, assisting her down the interior stairs. Other firefighters searched the building for additional occupants and for fire extension, laddered the building, provided for a water supply from a hydrant, stretched a second hose line, and provided for emergency medical coverage. The fire was declared under control at 11:17 a.m. Firefighters continued to ventilate smoke and perform salvage and overhaul activities. The fire was determined to be confined to the apartment of origin.
No one was home in the fire unit at the time of the fire. Palatine Police officers assisted with evacuating the building, and also with traffic and crowd control. Cook County Sheriff’s Police also assisted with crowd control at the scene. Three civilians were assessed on the scene for possible smoke inhalation; all refused further medical care or transportation. No firefighters were injured during this incident.
The fire was fought by 24 firefighters, staffing three engines, two ladder trucks, one rescue squad and four ambulances which responded to the scene along with five command officers. One engine from Arlington Heights and one ambulance from Buffalo Grove responded to the scene, and an ambulance from the Long Grove Fire Protection District responded to cover a Palatine fire station under automatic and mutual aid agreements. Two fire investigators also responded to the scene. The complex where the fire occurred is in unincorporated Palatine Township and part of the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District. It is covered by the Village of Palatine Fire Department under a contractual agreement.
The apartment where the fire originated suffered significant fire, smoke and heat damage and was not tenable for the occupants. The remaining units of the building sustained no damage. At the time of this release, the cause of the fire remains under investigation and damage estimates are not yet available.
The Palatine Fire Department reminds everyone to have working smoke detectors in their homes. If you notice a fire or smoke in your home or apartment, get out immediately.
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