A “ROUTINE” HOUSE FIRE IN PROSPECT HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, played out in a very non-routine way on Wednesday night. A fire started in a 74-yr.-old man’s house in the garage and sent dense smoke through the house. The man got outside safely and called 9-1-1 from his front yard. But next he decided to go back into the house amidst the flames and smoke. It is believed that he went back to retrieve his wallet.
Two Prospect Heights police officers were on patrol in separate cars when the alarm was transmitted at 10:30 pm and they arrived on the scene before the FD units arrived. The Daily Herald tells what happened next:
Caponigro, who has been on the force 11 years, and Willey, 18 years, were on patrol in separate vehicles about 10:30 p.m. when they heard the call.
Officers were told there was no one in the home. They arrived to find smoke pouring out of the garage roof vent and the home in near complete darkness. Arriving before firefighters, Caponigro and Willey shouted into the home to make sure no one was inside. Willey, who had opened an unlocked back door of the home on the 100 block of Garden Lane, wasn’t expecting anyone but heard a response on his second call.
“I told him to get down low on the ground, cover his mouth – and crawl to my voice,” Willey said. But the man was disoriented and said he could not move due to an earlier injury.
Without breathing apparatus, Willey crawled about 30 feet through the kitchen and a hallway to the bedroom until he saw the man’s feet. “My flashlight (beam) didn’t go past his belt line,” Willey said.
“I could hear the wood crackling from the fire – that was the only thing that had me nervous – where the fire was and how quickly it might be spreading.” Caponigro also felt his way to assist and the pair were able to lead the man out the front door.
Officers Caponigro and Willey escort the victim to safety.
(Larry Shapiro photography)
The man was hospitalized and later transferred to a burn unit. He said that he believed the fire was caused by a faulty engine-block heater that was in operation. The FD estimated the loss at $20,000. The house is located in a non-hydrant area, necessitating an upgraded response for tankers and water supply assists.
The fire was contained to the garage. (Larry Shapiro photo)
Read the complete story in the Daily Herald HERE.
Intrepid Chicagoland fire photographer Larry Shapiro was on the scene and his filed a 61-image photo gallery HERE. His shots are always worth a visit.
Also on FireGeezer…
- Propane-Fed Garage Fire Spreads to House – March 15, 2011
- Chicken Heater Starts House Fire – November 25, 2011
- Surprise Garage Collapse Injures 3 Firefighters – January 27, 2012
- High-Dollar House Fire in San Diego – April 1, 2011
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