Firefighters from Des Plaines were called to a residence at 555 Leahy Circle East late on Friday night after reports of a basement fire. Upon receiving the call, a visible header was spotted, prompting the alarm to be upgraded to a working fire before units arrived on scene. Dispatch had already informed crews that the home had hoarder conditions, a detail confirmed by the first arriving officer as they circled the exterior. The occupants had already evacuated, and firefighters faced significant challenges entering the structure due to the cluttered environment.
Before making entry, multiple vent holes were cut into the roof, and crews were eventually ordered to withdraw and adopt a defensive strategy. The fire had spread from the basement to the second floor, with parts of the first floor also compromised. Hand lines were deployed through windows and doorways, but access to the fire’s origin remained difficult due to the extreme amount of debris and obstacles inside.
As the situation escalated, the incident was upgraded to a Box Alarm to bring in additional resources. After pulling personnel from the interior, the fire was allowed to burn until it became visible and accessible from the outside. A tower ladder was then positioned above the house, allowing for a ground-level master stream to be directed through the front door and living room. Once in place, firefighters were able to attack the flames more effectively. Hand lines were deployed on all sides of the building to contain the spread.
By 4:00 AM, the bulk of the fire was under control, though crews remained on site for several more hours to ensure full suppression and prevent rekindling. A wide range of emergency services responded, including Des Plaines Fire Department, along with mutual aid from Prospect Heights, Mount Prospect, North Maine, Elk Grove Township, Wheeling, Park Ridge, Chicago Squad 7, Rosemont, Bensenville, and Glenview.
Numerous photos captured the intensity of the blaze, showing thick smoke billowing from the house, flames engulfing the structure, and heavy fire damage to the kitchen area. These images, taken by local photographer Larry Shapiro, provide a vivid look at the challenging conditions faced by first responders during the incident.
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