Above / PN file photos are used to help flag reports about Naperville Fire Department responses to emergency calls and to remind readers that keeping the community safe is everyone’s responsibility. Be alert. Be prepared to call 911 when necessary. Be safe.
Structure Fire 400 Block of Massachusets Ave., south of 87th Street, Naperville, Illinois.
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — At 9:56PM on Saturday, September 29, 2018 Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received a 911 call from a resident stating there was smoke coming from the chimney of their two-story, single family residence. PSAP dispatched a Full Still assignment bringing two engines, one truck, one ALS ambulance, & two Battalion Commanders to the scene. Truck Company 5 was the first unit to arrive on scene
within five minutes of receiving the call.
Upon arrival, units reported seeing smoke coming from the exterior of an exterior chimney. Truck 5 upgraded the incident to a general alarm assignment bringing one additional engine company, one additional truck company, one squad company, and one additional ambulance to the scene. The assignment brought a total of 24 personnel to the incident.
Occupants had begun evacuating the building prior to the arrival of fire department personnel, which was confirmed by the first arriving company on the scene. Companies entered the building to investigate and found
heavy smoke coming from inside a chimney attached to the exterior of the residence. Companies initiated an
aggressive coordinated fire attack and extinguished the fire within minutes. Extra time was taken to ensure there
was minimal fire spread in the attic space that was attached to the chimney.
Areas with active burning were uncovered and extinguished within another hour of being on the scene. Crews continued to perform salvage and overhaul operations for another 60 minutes after the main fire was extinguished.
One family was displaced as a result of damage that occurred to the wood frame structure. The occupants were home at the time of the fire and were able to evacuate safely without injury. There were no injuries to any residents or firefighters operating at the scene.
The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, and area of origin determined to be in the upper segment of the wood frame chimney.
The Naperville Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Naperville Police Department, Naperville Transportation, Engineering, & Development Department (T.E.D.), & NICOR. The Plainfield and Bolingbrook Fire Protection Districts provided station coverage during this incident.
Report submitted by James C. Kubinski, EMT-P, Bureau Chief – E.M.S. Naperville Fire Department.
