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Long Grove structure fire 9-15-11
This morning, the Long Grove Fire Department got a call about a house fire at 1889 Checker Road. Over the past couple of weeks, they had been using this vacant house for training exercises, with participation from eight other departments conducting multiple drills inside each day. The training concluded yesterday, and the plan was to burn the house down on Saturday morning for the developer, with local residents invited to attend.
However, things took an unexpected turn today when a neighbor mistook the fire for a continuation of the training session. Realizing it was actually an unattended fire, she quickly called it in. Long Grove responded swiftly with their full force, including Tanker 55, as there are no nearby hydrants. The first responders noticed smoke rising soon after they left the station, and upon arrival, they found the fire raging at the north end of the house where a large stack of wooden pallets had been stored.
By the time firefighters arrived, the garage was already engulfed in flames, and the pallet storage area was heavily ablaze. Long Grove Squad 55 was positioned in the driveway, supplying five lines of water, while Tanker 55 provided 3,000 gallons of water. Additional support came from Prospect Heights and Fox Lake tankers, as the department aimed to prevent the structure from collapsing completely.
Engines from Buffalo Grove and Palatine joined the efforts, along with an ambulance from Arlington Heights for firefighter rehabilitation. Despite the intensity of the fire, much of the house was saved, though significant damage was evident. Firefighters worked tirelessly to control the blaze, using foam to extinguish smoldering areas and conserve water resources.
One of the most challenging aspects of the operation was the house’s location, set deep within the property with a gravel driveway. This required rigs to maneuver carefully, making it difficult for the last unit in line—the Fox Lake tanker—to refill its 3,000-gallon capacity, necessitating two trips to the water source.
Photographers Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk captured the intense firefighting efforts throughout the incident. A full gallery of images from the fire can be viewed online. Interestingly, some of these images also document the training sessions that took place over the past two weeks, highlighting the collaborative efforts of multiple departments, including Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights, Lake Zurich, and Barrington.
The final days of training saw increasingly intense scenarios, culminating in complex interior fires and victim searches. These exercises proved invaluable in preparing the firefighters for real-life emergencies like today’s incident. As the situation stabilized, Long Grove firefighters remained vigilant, ensuring all hotspots were extinguished and the structure was secure.
Overall, while the fire caused significant damage, the coordinated efforts of the Long Grove Fire Department and their partner agencies prevented further loss and showcased the importance of rigorous training in emergency response.