Late Friday night, firefighters from Des Plaines were dispatched to a residence located at 555 Leahy Circle East following reports of a fire in the basement. As they approached the scene, thick smoke could be seen rising from the house, prompting dispatch to upgrade the alarm to a working fire status even before the units arrived. Upon arrival, experienced officers confirmed what dispatch had warned about—hoarder conditions inside the home. The residents had already evacuated, but firefighters found it incredibly challenging to enter due to the severe clutter.
The fire quickly spread from the basement to the second floor, with parts of the first floor also compromised. Despite efforts to direct hand lines through available windows and doorways, accessing the core of the fire remained difficult because of the obstructive mess. Recognizing the complexity of the situation, the incident was escalated to a Box Alarm request for additional resources. Firefighters then strategically withdrew from the interior and adopted a defensive posture, allowing the fire to burn until it became visible and accessible from the exterior.
A tower ladder was eventually brought into play, with a ground-level master stream used initially through the front door and living room. Once repositioned above the house, it successfully targeted the flames venting through the roof. Hand lines were deployed on all sides of the building to ensure comprehensive coverage. By 4 a.m., the majority of the fire was under control, though crews stayed on-site for several more hours to fully extinguish any remaining embers.
This operation involved not only all Des Plaines units but also mutual aid support from Prospect Heights, Mount Prospect, The North Maine Fire Protection District, Elk Grove Township Fire Protection District, Wheeling, Park Ridge, Chicago Squad 7, Rosemont, Bensenville, and Glenview.
Attached are photos taken by Larry Shapiro, capturing the intensity of the blaze and the extensive smoke damage caused by the fire. The images vividly depict how heavy smoke curled around the house’s siding and poured out of windows, highlighting the severity of the situation firefighters faced. One image specifically shows the fire raging through the hoarder's kitchen, emphasizing the challenges posed by the clutter.
As the sun rose, firefighters continued their work, ensuring that no hidden dangers remained. The community expressed gratitude for the dedication and professionalism shown by all emergency responders who worked tirelessly through the night to protect lives and property.
Wuxi Feiyiya Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.feiyya.com