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Box Alarm fire in Prospect Heights, 8-25-22
Thursday afternoon brought a fire emergency to Old Willow Road in Prospect Heights. Dispatchers from Prospect Heights and Wheeling received numerous calls around 1 PM, with some callers sounding frantic in the background. The RED Center quickly escalated the situation to a Working Fire status shortly after the initial report came in.
Prospect Heights Chief 900 was the first to arrive at the scene, located at 818 Old Willow Road. He immediately noted thick plumes of smoke billowing from the roof of a two-story, multi-unit apartment complex. Several families were seen evacuating the building in a hurried manner as flames licked at the structure. Crews swiftly initiated an interior attack, only to discover intense fire raging inside, particularly concentrated near an interior wall.
The severity of the situation prompted an upgrade to a MABAS Box Alarm, calling for additional resources to support the initial responding teams. Des Plaines Tower 61 took charge of venting the roof to relieve pressure and improve ventilation. It’s worth mentioning that Des Plaines Fire Department's Tower 61 has been operating with a reserve unit from Northbrook, specifically Tower 12, which has been filling in for some time now. This collaboration was evident as Tower 61 was positioned prominently in front of the burning building.
Preliminary assessments suggest that possibly six units within the apartment complex suffered varying degrees of damage—either directly from the fire, water used during firefighting efforts, or due to precautionary checks for potential spread. However, the Prospect Heights Building Department determined that the entire building was no longer safe for occupancy, leaving all residents displaced for the time being.
A significant number of emergency response units contributed to managing this crisis. Among them were Prospect Heights Engine 39, Squad 9, Chief 900, and Battalion 9; Wheeling Ambulance 24, Engine 23, Truck 24, Chief 2400, and Battalion 24; Mount Prospect Ambulance 14 and 301, Des Plaines Tower 61, Glenview Engine 8, North Maine Engine 1 and Battalion 1, Niles Truck 2, Long Grove Squad 55, Buffalo Grove Engine 26, and Northbrook Tower 12.
Attached below are several images captured by Larry Shapiro, providing a glimpse into the intensity of the fire and the coordinated efforts of local fire departments. These photos vividly illustrate the scale of destruction and the professionalism exhibited by firefighters working tirelessly under challenging conditions.
As cleanup and recovery efforts continue, the community remains hopeful for swift resolution and support for those affected by this unfortunate event.
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