Tag Archives: Illinois

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Geneva, IL – Fire in garage of townhouse contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

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No one was injured in a fire that started Thursday evening in the garage of a townhouse on the west side of Geneva, officials said.

The incident happened at about 5:13 p.m. in the 2000 block of Vanderbilt Drive.

When firefighters got to the two-story, multi-unit townhome building, they found light smoke showing from the two-car attached garage. The garage sprinkler system had activated and helped contain the fire before first responders arrived, officials said in a news release Friday.

All residents had evacuated before firefighters arrived. Crews brought the fire under control in less than 20 minutes.

The townhome remains habitable, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The St. Charles, Batavia, and Elburn and Countryside fire departments helped Geneva crews at the scene, as did the Geneva Police Department. The West Chicago Fire Protection District provided station coverage during the incident.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Batavia, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at manufacturing plant; No injuries reported

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Equipment caught fire at the Suncast Corporation manufacturing facility in Batavia over the weekend. No workers or any attending firefighters were hurt during the blaze.

The Batavia Fire Department responded on Feb. 7 to 701 N. Kirk Road.

The building had been evacuated after the automatic sprinkler system was activated inside the room containing the fire. Several employees attempted to put out the fire using portable fire extinguishers prior to the evacuation, according to a release by the fire department.

Fire crews located part of the machinery equipment actively burning inside the powder coat booth area. The automatic sprinklers successfully contained the fire to the equipment involved, according to the release.

No smoke or odor exited the building. The fire crew was able to fully extinguish the fire in around 30 minutes. Employees were able to enter the building and return to operations following the incident, according to the release.

The fire department said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Cost estimates from the fire damage is not yet available.

A total of 32 fire personnel were on-scene.

Several local fire departments assisted at the scene, including the St. Charles Fire Department and the Geneva Fire Department.

Other - Residential, Residential

Crystal Lake, IL – Sprinkler system held fire in check at residential complex; No injuries reported

Fire officials are crediting fire alarms and sprinklers for preventing further damage or loss of life during a garage fire at a residential complex in Crystal Lake early Thursday morning.

Battalion Chief Brian Tamason of the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department said firefighters were called to a 6-unit complex on Ambassador Circle for an activated fire alarm at 1:17 a.m. Thursday.

Upon arrival, fire crews rapidly identified the activated fire alarm in building 406 and observed smoke showing from an east-side garage door.

Building 406 is a large two-story multifamily residence where units are side-by-side.

Battalion 3 established command and upgraded the response to a working fire while fire crews quickly located a small fire in a garage, Tamason said.

Fire crews noted the small fire was being held in check by an operating residential sprinkler system, which prevented further fire growth and extension.

Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire, Tamason said, reporting the fire was out at 1:36 a.m.

Smoke, fire, and water damage were isolated to the single two-car garage, Tamason said. The estimated loss to the property is $5,000.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

Tamason said all residential units at this location remain habitable and no residents were displaced because of the blaze.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Tamason said the fire serves as a powerful example of the life-saving importance of fire sprinkler systems.

Nationally, fire sprinklers are estimated to control or extinguish approximately 52,800 fires each year, he said, Tamason said.

In this incident, the fire was held in check by the building’s sprinkler system, resulting in minimal damage and no civilian injuries.

Because the fire was contained, Tamason said the resident was able to safely return home without being displaced.

Area fire departments, including Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, Cary Fire Protection District, Huntley Fire Protection District, McHenry Township Fire Protection District, Nunda Rural Fire Protection District, and Wauconda Fire District, were dispatched to the scene to assist.

Carpentersville Fire Department and the Woodstock Fire and Rescue Districts worked to handle change of quarters duties for the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Plainfield, IL – Kitchen fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Plainfield Fire Protection District says a fire damaged the HopScotch and Vine restaurant Wednesday.

The restaurant is located in the 24000 block of West Lockport Street.

Fire officials say the building’s sprinkler system helped keep the fire largely contained to the kitchen area. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and ventilate the building.

Everyone inside the restaurant, as well as neighboring units, was able to evacuate safely.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damage is estimated at approximately $100,000.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

New Lenox, IL – Sprinkler system activated for machine fire

The New Lenox Fire Protection District responded to a reported structure fire in the 2200 block of Berens Drive in New Lenox just after 1:10 Thursday afternoon.

Upon arrival, crews found a baling machine on fire in an isolated room, with smoke conditions throughout the building. The facility’s automatic sprinkler system activated and successfully kept the fire in check. Fire crews then supplemented the sprinkler system with additional suppression efforts to further extinguish the fire. 

The incident remains ongoing but is under control at this time. 

Multiple agencies assisted on scene and provided station coverage to ensure continued service to the community, including the Frankfort Fire Protection District and Manhattan Fire Protection District. 

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Joliet, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Amazon warehouse

Just before 3:30 Monday afternoon, the Joliet Fire Department responded to the Amazon Warehouse at 4300 Brandon Rd for a report of a structure fire.

Company 3 arrived to find a large commercial warehouse filled with smoke, and the sprinkler system was activated. As crews entered, the fire was located deep inside the warehouse and beyond reach of the initial attack lines. The crews relocated to the south end of the building to make an interior attack on the fire.

Fire crews were challenged with zero viability, a heavy fire load, and material falling from the storage racks. With the sprinkler system keeping the fire in check, crews were able to work around the storage racks and begin attacking the fire. The roof was opened over the fire to increase visibility. Roof crews noted fire above the sprinklers that the attack crews could not see from the floor.

Mabas 10 responded with a large space ventilation truck to assist with smoke removal, allowing the attack crews to visualize the fire area more clearly. After the main body of fire was extinguished, crews worked isle by isle to remove product and extinguish any remaining spot fires.

The initial crews remained on the scene for over 5 hours, extinguishing hot spots and checking for extension. One firefighter was transported to the hospital for a shoulder injury. A crew of firefighters will remain on the scene overnight with the sprinkler system out of service to ensure there are no flare ups.

Fire crews from stations 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 responded to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Woodstock, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

A Walmart in Woodstock, Illinois, was closed after a fire inside the store on Wednesday night.

It happened just before 7:30 p.m. at the store located at 1275 Lake Avenue.

The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District said crews responded to reports of a fire inside the store. The store was being evacuated as they arrived.

Firefighters found the fire near the rear of the store, which had already been extinguished by the building’s automatic sprinkler system, fire officials said.

They remained on scene for more than two hours, monitoring conditions and assisting with smoke removal. The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District airboat assisted with ventilating smoke from the store.

No injuries were reported.

The store was closed for the remainder of the evening and remains closed as of Thursday for the New Year holiday.

The incident remains under investigation by the Woodstock Police Department.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Westmont, IL – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at restaurant; No injuries reported

A fire that started in the kitchen of a Westmont restaurant Tuesday night spread to the roof due to grease, according to fire officials.

The blaze broke out around 4:30 p.m. at Belly Delhi, located at 653-657 Cass Ave. Fire crews got to the scene within three minutes and controlled the flames within 20 minutes, a news release said.

By 5:17 p.m., the fire had been put out completely. No one was hurt in the blaze.

The building’s sprinkler system helped control some of the blaze, which broke out at Belly Delhi Tuesday night.

Fire officials say a preliminary investigation suggests the fire started in the restaurant’s stove before extending through a grease chute and onto the roof of Belly Delhi.

In addition to fire crews from Downers Grove Darien, Clarendon HIlls, Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Tri-State, the DuPage County Health Department also responded to the fire.

“We want to thank all our neighboring fire departments for assisting with this call,” West Department Deputy Chief Tom Frank said in a statement.

Fire officials say an investigation is underway.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Channahon, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at truck stop

The Channahon Fire Protection District has issued a Facebook post surrounding Friday morning’s building fire at the Love’s/Speedco Truck Service building. Fire engines were notified of the fire alarm at 5:47 a.m. at 23865 W Bluff Road and remained on the scene until around 8:30 a.m.

As engine companies were approaching the scene, the first arriving firefighters confirmed a working fire within the facility, Channahon announced. The fire was located in the east maintenance bay. Fire crews forced entry at the north and east portions of the building through overhead garage and man doors to access the fire. The fire was extinguished at 6:31 a.m.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries during the incident and was treated and released. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but is considered accidental in nature, the Channahon Fire Protection District announced.

The building was not occupied at the time of the fire. The following agencies aided at the scene of the fire: Minooka Fire, Troy Fire, Wilmington Fire, Coal City Fire, Joliet Fire, Lockport Fire, Elwood Fire, Morris Ambulance, Channahon Police Department, NiCor, and ComEd.

“As part of this release, we would like to highlight the importance of the facilities’ well-maintained fire suppression system and fire alarm system directly connected to the central dispatch center, Wescom. Even though the building sustained smoke and radiant heat damage in the fire’s area of origin, there was NO damage to the remainder of the building. The sprinkler system’s response held the fire to the area of origin,” Channahon fire officials noted.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Sprinkler system prevents fire from spreading at apartment complex; No injuries reported

The Peoria Fire Department said “multiple” people have been displaced after a trash fire in a hallway at New Hope Apartments in Downtown Peoria.

The fire department was called about 6:35 p.m. where a fire was on the fifth floor of the building at 301 NE Jefferson.

All residents were safely evacuated, and there were no injuries, said Battalion Chief Josh Maroney.

The chief also said the building’s sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading. The water damage, however, caused “multiple” residents to be displaced.

According to the chief, restoration work is underway, and residents will be able to return to their homes when repairs are done.

This is the second time in recent weeks that firefighters were called to put out a fire at New Hope. Investigators determined the fire that happened about 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 20 was intentionally set and caused an estimated $200,000.

Total damage of Tuesday evening’s fire is estimated at $60,000.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers