Above / Naperville Fire Department reports home fire in 900 Block of Matthew Court (West of Rickert Road, South of Route 34). No injuries reported. Note: PN file photos of emergency vehicles are used to attract attention to posts involving first responders as a reminder that keeping the community safe is everyone’s responsibility. Thanks to the neighbors who called 911 to report seeing flames.
At 12:26PM on Sunday, July 21, 2019, Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received a 911 call from a resident stating he could see flames in the attic area of a house that is located behind his house. A second caller, who lives on the 900 Block of Matthew Court, advised she could see flames coming from the roof of the house next to her house.
Dispatchers were advised by the second caller that there was a dog inside the house and that she did not know if there were any other occupants inside. A general alarm assignment was immediately dispatched to the location by PSAP. Engine Company 7 and Battalion Commander 1 arrived on scene simultaneously, within 6 minutes of receiving the call, and reported flames coming from the roof and attic area of the two-story single-family residence. The general alarm assignment consisted of three engine companies, two truck companies, one squad company, two ambulances, and two battalion commanders for a total of 24 personnel that responded to the scene of the incident.
Companies initiated an aggressive, coordinated fire attack and extinguished the fire within 45 minutes. Extra time was taken to extinguish areas with active burning in the second floor and attic spaces of the structure. Crews
continued to perform salvage and overhaul operations for another sixty minutes after the main fire was
extinguished. No injuries to any residents or firefighters operating at the scene were reported during this incident.
Family pets inside the building were safely removed by firefighters after confirming that there were no residents
inside.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and area of origin determined to be in the attic space. The house was
declared uninhabitable and a family of three was displaced as a result of damage that occurred to the wood frame structure. Assistance was provided to the displaced family by the American Red Cross who responded to the scene.
The Naperville Fire Department was also assisted at the scene by the Naperville Police Department, Naperville
Transportation, Engineering, & Development Department (T.E.D.), Naperville Electric Department (N.E.D.), and
American Red Cross Canteen. Fire Station coverage was provided by the Warrenville, Lisle-Woodridge, North
Aurora, and Plainfield fire agencies.
Report submitted by, James C. Kubinski, EMT-P, Bureau Chief – E.M.S., Naperville Fire Department.
