Late Friday night, Des Plaines firefighters responded to a call at a residence located at 555 Leahy Circle East. As they approached the scene, they noticed heavy smoke billowing from the basement. The dispatch upgraded the alarm to a working fire status before the units arrived. On arrival, officers observed hoarding conditions around the property, which complicated the situation further. The residents were safely evacuated, but firefighters faced significant challenges in accessing the building due to the clutter inside.
The fire quickly spread from the basement to the second floor, and parts of the first floor were also affected. Despite efforts to direct hand lines through windows and doors, reaching the source of the fire proved extremely difficult because of the extensive hoarding. In response, the incident was escalated to a Box Alarm, calling in additional resources from multiple neighboring departments including Prospect Heights, Mount Prospect, The North Maine Fire Protection District, Elk Grove Township Fire Protection District, Wheeling, Park Ridge, Chicago Squad 7, Rosemont, Bensenville, and Glenview.
After pulling firefighters out of the structure for their safety, the decision was made to allow the fire to burn until it became visible and accessible from the outside. Once this happened, crews resumed their efforts to extinguish the flames. A tower ladder was employed, with a ground-level master stream directed through the front door and living room before being positioned above the house to target the fire venting through the roof. Hand lines were deployed on all sides of the structure.
By 4 AM, the majority of the fire had been contained, though firefighting operations continued throughout the early morning hours. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of all involved departments, the fire was eventually brought under control. The photos provided by Larry Shapiro vividly capture the intensity of the situation, showing thick smoke pouring from the windows and flames engulfing various sections of the hoarder’s home.
As residents and firefighters alike watched the intense blaze, it became clear just how critical teamwork and resourcefulness were in managing such a challenging scenario. The images serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by hoarding situations and the importance of preparedness in preventing catastrophic outcomes.
Jiangsu Minnuo Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. , https://www.minnuoindustry.com