Tag Archives: Illinois

College/University (on campus), School / University

Frankfort, IL – Fire at vacant high school controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Frankfort Fire Protection District responded Monday to a fire alarm at Lincoln-Way North High School, 19900 S. Harlem Ave. in Frankfort, according to a post Tuesday on the fire district’s Facebook page. No one was inside the vacant high school at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported, according to Frankfort Fire Protection District Chief Sean Fierce.

Frankfort FPD responded to the alarm around 8:17 p.m. and were able to smell a burning odor, Fierce said. Crews located the source of the fire in the basement of the closed high school, which prompted the Fire District to raise the alarm to that of a structure fire to bring in more resources, Fierce said.

Industrial batteries had malfunctioned, and officials said they believe that was what caused the fire, though the official determination is still under investigation. The burning batteries released hydrogen sulfide, which was ventilated before crews put out the fire, Fierce said.

The fire did not spread beyond the basement area where the fire started because the building’s sprinkler system activated, Fierce said.

Frankfort FPD estimated the damage to be approximately $5,000 to $10,000, according to the post.

Fire crews from Tinley Park, Matteson, East Joliet, Elwood, Park Forest, Orland Park, New Lenox and the State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted in the effort to put out the fire, according to the post.

Apartment Building, Residential

Skokie, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire in apartment building; No injuries reported

People in one Skokie residential building are dealing with the aftermath of a fire that has left them in the dark.

About 140 people live in the 10-story building.

On the fifth floor, a small fire triggered the sprinkler system, and while the fire was quickly contained, those sprinklers did their job so well spraying water that it actually flooded parts of the rest of the building.

“There’s too much of it on five, and it’s all through the elevators and everything,” said resident Michelle Carelli. “My apartment’s got it through the hallway. I”ll have some cleaning to do in my apartment.”

There were no injuries as a result of the fire.

Skokie Fire said the fire actually got inside the electrical system, which can be dangerous, so they had to shut down power to the building. Saturday morning they were working with electricians and Cook County Emergency Management and hoped to have power restored within several hours.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Plainfield, IL – Arson fire at middle school extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire at a Plainfield Middle School ended with an arson investigation. It was at 8:11am that the Plainfield Fire Protection District and the Plainfield Police Department were called to Ira Jones Middle School in regards to a fire alarm. Upon arriving personnel was able to located and isolate the fire to a first-floor bathroom and was extinguished by the sprinkler system. During the investigation into the cause of the fire, investigators identified a fourteen-year-old male student as the individual who started the fire. During an interview, he admitted, to using a lighter to ignite a paper towel within the dispenser. He believed he extinguished the fire, left the restroom and returned to his class. A short time later, the fire alarm was activated.

No injures were reported as a result of the fire. Students and staff were briefly relocated to C.W. Avery Family YMCA and at the discretion of school personnel, the students were reunited with their parents. There was a significant amount of water and smoke damager to the school according the Police , which has resulted in its closing. It will remain closed until further notice. Additionally, students will be in remote learning until further notice.

Criminal charges are pending as the investigation is still active.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Litchfield, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart

Authorities are investigating the origin of a fire Monday evening, May 3, at Walmart in Litchfield that lead to the evacuation and temporary closure of the store.

According to Litchfield Fire Department Chief Joe Holomy, the Litchfield Police Department is working with fire and arson investigators who are reviewing video footage as part of investigation.  Anyone with information about the fire should contact the Litchfield Fire Department at 217-324-8171.

According to the chief, the Litchfield Fire Department was dispatched to Walmart at 7:32 p.m. Monday after a report of flames and smoke in the store.  Evacuation was underway when firefighters arrived to find smoke throughout the store.

Two employees were attempting to extinguish a fire in the rear of the building with fire extinguishers, and the store’s sprinkler system activated to aid in control of the blaze.  Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and shut down the sprinkler system to control water damage.

The fire department requested a mutual aid ventilation fan, and the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department and Mt. Olive Fire Department arrived to assist with ventilation.

The scene was under control at 7:45 p.m., and two Walmart employees were evaluated for smoke inhalation but refused transport to the hospital.

Damage estimates are still being calculated, and the store will be closed for several days for clean-up.

The Litchfield Police Department, Hillsboro Area Ambulance, and Gillespie Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Airport, Other Business

Chicago, IL – Sprinkler system activated for electrical fire at O’Hare International Airport; No injuries reported

A fire broke out in a pedestrian tunnel at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday morning, the Chicago Fire Department confirms.

The fire started shortly after 8 a.m. The escalator fire in the pedestrian tunnel between concourses B and C in Terminal 1 was caused by an electrical issue.

Sprinklers went off, and the tunnel was closed and electricity turned off. Power was restored around 9:30 a.m.

People are being shuttled around the tunnel, CFD said.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Officials with United Airlines reported that some flights were delayed due to the incident, but regular operations had resumed by noon.

Government Office, Government/Military

Winnetka, IL – Electrical fire at township office contained by single sprinkler head

The New Trier Township office in Winnetka temporarily closed due to an electrical fire that broke out in a utility room last week.

Winnetka Fire Department personnel responded to an alarm at the building, 739 Elm St., March 28 at 3:46 a.m., according to Chief Alan Berkowsky.

Upon arrival, they discovered smoke coming from the building’s basement and located the fire in a corner of a utility room, Berkowsky noted.

“The fire was contained by a single sprinkler head, which held the fire in check,” Berkowsky said. “Once we powered the (electrical) grid down, we extinguished the fire. If it wasn’t for the sprinkler head and the fire alarm system doing what they were supposed to be doing, I think that building would have had significant fire damage.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Plainfield, IL – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by fire sprinkler system

On Thursday, April 1st, just before 4:00 pm a 9-1-1 call was placed to the Plainfield Fire Protection District for a kitchen fire in the 23600 block of Springs Court. The occupants of the apartment had safely escaped when the smoke alarms went off and the fire was extinguished by a single fire sprinkler head. The fire had started in a pan of oil heating on the stove and spread to the microwave and cabinets above the stove before being extinguished by the sprinkler. Firefighters credit the quick thinking of a teenage occupant who made sure everyone heard the alarm, waking up a sleeping sibling and getting everyone out of the apartment and calling 9-1-1. Remember to always stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop, put a lid on small grease fires while turning off the heat and leaving the lid on to cool the pan and smother the fire. Never put water on a grease fire and never try to move or carry a pan on fire.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Crest Hill, IL – Sprinkler systems activated for fire at inn; no Injuries reported

Less than four months after the Crest Hill Inn on Plainfield Road was the scene of a deadly stabbing in one of the rooms, a fire broke out late Tuesday afternoon.

Around 3:50 p.m., trucks and engines from the Lockport Township Fire Protection District rolled up to 2109 Plainfield Road to find smoke coming out of one of the hotel room windows.

The sprinkler heads activated, and this kept the fire in check, according to deputy fire chief Frank Blaskey. Firefighters ran a hose line into the hotel to quickly extinguish the remaining fire, he said.

“Fire damage was confined to the room of origin, but water damage left several rooms unable to be occupied,” Blaskey said. “There were no injuries reported and all occupants safely evacuated their rooms.”

Other areas of the Crest Hill Inn can remain occupied, the fire department said. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Lockport Fire Investigators but it appears to be accidental in nature, Blaskey’s news release stated.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

North Aurora, IL – Townhouse garage fire stopped by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

North Aurora Fire Protection District officials said no one was injured in an early Sunday morning fire inside a townhouse garage.

Fire officials said the fire was reported at about 1 a.m. on the 11 block of Kilberry Lane. Responding firefighters did not see any smoke or fire upon arrival, but residents of the townhouse attached to the garage reported hearing “popping” from inside the garage and smelled smoke before alerting the fire department.

When firefighters opened the garage, they could see smoke. A sprinkler system in the structure had been activated, helping to prevent any significant fire damage to the building, officials said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but officials believe contents in the garage sparked the fire. However, they don’t have reason to believe the blaze originated from any vehicle in the garage.

The garage was attached to an “end unit townhome,” and only the residents of that unit were displaced because of smoke damage to the residence, officials said.

No damage estimate was available.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Bartlett, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire at warehouse; No injuries reported

More than 80 firefighters responded Tuesday night to a large fire at a 100,000-square-foot warehouse in Bartlett, authorities said.

The first crews arrived at the warehouse on the 1300 block of Brewster Creek Boulevard about 10:15 p.m. Workers told them that smoke and flames were coming from a pallet storage area.

The building’s sprinkler system contained the fire to a 50-square-foot area, but heavy smoke created visibility issues, according to a news release from the Bartlett Fire Protection District.

The fire was escalated to a second alarm, bringing additional firefighters and equipment, and authorities requested a specialized truck-mounted fan to help clear the smoke. The fire was declared under control at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Nobody was injured in the fire, which investigators said was accidental.

The Hanover Park, Streamwood, South Elgin, Elgin, Fox River Countryside, West Chicago, Carol Stream, Bloomingdale, Naperville, Elk Grove and St. Charles fire departments responded to the scene as part of mutual aid agreements, the news release said. The Bartlett Police Department, Bartlett Public Works Department and the Hanover Township Emergency Services also assisted.