Police, firefighters and paramedics from Prospect Heights responded about 7:48 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, 2021 to a report of a house fire in the block of 100 Patricia Lane in Prospect Heights.
Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters discovered a two-story home with a fire in the attic. Heavy smoke was coming from all eaves of the roof. No fire had spread into the home’s interior. Within a few minutes of their arrival, the first engine crew had a hose stream on the fire and extinguished the original fire. Efforts were then focused on the fire that was spreading in the roof and attic. Simultaneously, a search was made of the home to ensure everyone was safely evacuated from the home.
All occupants were safely evacuated, and initially no injuries were reported.
The fire was brought under control and extinguished within 20 minutes of arrival using two hose lines, and included work of more than a dozen fire units with their crews.
Weather Observations
7:52 PM
Air 8°F Wind Chill -6°F S 10 MPH8:52 PM
Air 9°F Wind Chill -7°F S 14 MPH9:52 PM
Air 10°F Wind Chill -5°F S 12 MPH10:52 PM
Air 14°F Wind Chill 00°F S 12 MPH— NWS Chicago Executive Airport
Approximately 40 firefighters worked at the fire scene with a variety of assignments, including extinguishing the fire, search and rescue, checking for extension, overhaul of damage, and secondary standby a a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT).
Firefighters worked nearly one hour checking for hot spots and fire extension locations to ensure the fire was completely out.
“The Prospect Heights Fire Protections District reminds everyone to always have two ways to escape from their home, to ensure smoke alarms are present and working, and to develop an emergency plan should their home be destroyed by a fire or other disaster.
Fire sprinklers save lives and property. Had this structure been equipped with fire sprinklers, the original fire would have been extinguished prior to the arrival of the fire department or at the worst, contained to the single room where it had started.”
— Prospect Heights Fire Protection District
A total of five fire engines, five water tankers, two aerial trucks, two ambulances, one rescue squad, and several chief officers battled the fire. At initial 9-1-1 dispatch, Prospect Heights Fire Protection District firefighters were automatically assisted by Wheeling Fire Department firefighters in this neighborhood.
Firefighters from Des Plaines, Glenview, Mount Prospect, and Libertyville fire departments; and the Elk Grove Township, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, and Long Grove fire protection districts were assigned to assist Prospect Heights and Wheeling firefighters either on scene or to stand by in Prospect Heights fire stations when the fire was upgraded to a Working Fire response.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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