Naperville Fire Department responds to structure fire, 3500 block of Redwing Court, located in Tall Grass, south of 95th Street. Sad news of one fatality and one civilian injury reported. No injuries to firefighters. Estimated damage is in excess of $800,000. (PN file photos are used to help flag reports about Naperville Fire Department and Police Department responses to emergency calls, always reminding readers that keeping the community safe is everyone’s responsibility. Thanks always to bystanders for calling 911 whenever necessary to report something that seems suspicious. Be alert by day and by night. Bystanders always are appreciated for calling 911. Stay safe.)
At approximately 3:15PM Tues., Feb. 18, the Naperville Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received multiple calls reporting a structure fire at a single-family residence in the 3500 block of Redwing Court.
The ECC dispatched a general alarm assignment consisting of 10 pieces of fire apparatus and 24 personnel including an Incident Commander and Incident Safety Officer to the reported address. Naperville Police arrived on the scene at 3:17PM and confirmed a fully involved structure fire with an individual trapped on the second floor.
The first fire suppression vehicle arrived at 3:21PM and found heavy fire on the first and second floor of the home. Crews immediately began a coordinated transitional attack to try to darken down the fire to assist them in making a rescue of a trapped occupant. Additional crews deployed multiple hose lines to knock down the flames from the interior of the structure and facilitate a rescue operation. Crews, however, faced significant challenges accessing the second floor due to substantial fire damage, which had caused a collapse in the interior stairwell and multiple holes in the second floor. Heavy fire was venting from nearly all second-floor windows slowing down any exterior rescue attempts via outside ground ladders as well.
Due to the extreme cold weather and the advanced fire, a Box Alarm was called bringing an additional 6 suppression vehicles to the scene. At 4:33PM, the alarm struck, indicating the fire was under control. Fire companies continued to remain on scene to continue overhaul operations.
The Naperville Fire Department received support from the Naperville Police, Naperville Electric, Naperville Transportation Engineering Development Team, Naperville Public Works, Naperville EMA, and NICOR. Fire departments from Aurora, Bolingbrook, Lisle-Woodridge, Fermi Lab, Oswego and Plainfield, assisted on the scene. Additional station coverage was provided by the Bolingbrook, Lockport, Plainfield, Romeoville, and Warrenville Fire Departments.
The structure was deemed uninhabitable by the Naperville Transportation, Engineering, and Development Team, which resulted in the displacement of five individuals.
In addition to the one civilian casualty, there was one civilian occupant transported for treatment to a local hospital. No firefighter injuries were reported.
The estimated damage from the fire is projected to exceed $800,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Naperville Fire Department investigation team along with Naperville Police and the Office of the State Fire Marshal are coordinating the investigation.
The Naperville Fire Department wishes to express its sorrow for the loss of life of one of our Naperville community members. We offer our full support to the family and friends of the victim.
Report submitted by Phil Giannattasio CFO, MPSA, Deputy Chief | Naperville Fire Department.
Naperville firefighters respond to smoke in trash compactor
At 9:04AM the following day on Wed., Feb. 19, Naperville Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call for a reported fire in a trash compactor behind Savers at 1125 E Ogden Ave.
Naperville Emergency Communications Center (ECC) subsequently received a fire alarm activation from that location as well. The initial response was a full still assignment which brought two engines, one ladder truck, two battalion commanders, and one ambulance to the scene.
The first crew arrived on scene at 0910 hours and reported smoke coming from a large 60-80 yard commercial trash compactor. Due to the proximity of the trash compactor to the building, the alarm was upgraded to a general alarm response. This brought an additional engine company, ladder company, squad company, and one medic unit to the scene.
Companies deployed handlines and were able to contain the fire damage to the trash compactor itself. No damage was sustained to the inside of the structure from the fire. The fire was brought under control with 15 minutes of crews arrival on scene. Due to the large content factor of the trash compactor, extensive overhaul operations were required to fully extinguish the fire. No injuries were sustained during the incident and crews were assisted on scene by Naperville Police Department, Naperville Transportation Engineering and Development (TED), and Naperville Public Works.
Damage was estimated to be approximately $8,000 and fire cause was found to be unintentional in nature. The building was deemed habitable by TED and the fire scene was turned back over to building management upon completion of the incident.
February 19, 2025 / Report submitted by Dan Donahoe, Captain, for the Naperville Fire Department.
