This morning, a fire broke out in Lake Bluff, and the alarm was escalated to a working fire even before the first emergency unit arrived, thanks to the visible smoke plume from the fire station. The first responders reached the scene at 113 Woodland Avenue and immediately reported heavy smoke emanating from the building. Within moments, the fire was classified as a MABAS Box Alarm. Lake Bluff received immediate assistance from Knollwood and Lake Forest on the initial alarm, while additional support was expected from Highwood, Highland Park, North Chicago, Libertyville, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, and Countryside as part of the box alarm response. Thirty minutes later, a second alarm was called as flames breached the roof of the structure. The older Tudor-style home required extensive overhaul efforts, necessitating multiple units for relief.
As luck would have it, Tim Olk was nearby when the call came in and arrived shortly after the first companies. Jeff Rudolph also managed to get there and captured some crucial images that I’ll share in an update.
I’ve included some photos taken by Jeff Rudolph below to give you a better sense of how things unfolded:
The first truck on the scene was Knollwood Truck 44. Knollwood and Lake Bluff typically respond together on most calls. In the image, you can see the heavy smoke billowing from the house as firefighters gear up.
Lake Bluff Engine 519, a 2007 Pierce Saber, was the first engine on the scene. It quickly positioned itself in the ‘A’ sector in front of the house, ready to start operations.
Highwood Truck 37, equipped with their 2001 HME Smeal 75’ quint, was among those due on the Box Alarm. You can see them preparing to assist in the operation.
At one point, fire began to break through the roof, prompting a second alarm request. Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish any remaining fire in the lower soffits while others moved inside the house to ensure the flames on the second floor were fully under control.
Even as the fire was being brought under control, crews continued to search for any lingering hotspots. Light smoke could still be seen coming from the front of the house as firefighters began the overhaul process.
Safety remained a top priority, and firefighters carefully set up ladders to the roof to ensure proper ventilation before gaining access for further operations. One firefighter was completely enveloped in smoke as he worked diligently to ventilate the second floor.
As the situation stabilized, Highwood firefighter Karl Klotz took a moment to regroup in the rear before heading back in for the final stages of overhaul.
These images provide a glimpse into the intense effort required to manage such a significant fire. Stay tuned for more updates and additional photos as they become available.
special steel,steel specialties,specialty steel
Jiangyou ChongxinSpecial Metal Materials Co., Ltd. , https://www.zhongxindiesteel.com