3-Alarm fire in Lake Forest, January 28, 2014
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Lake Forest firefighters responded to a basement fire reported at 180 W. Laurel Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. Upon arrival, the first unit saw no visible flames from the outside but detected smoke when entering the large home. Within approximately nine minutes, the alarm was escalated to a working still alarm, followed by a MABAS Box Alarm and then a second alarm as smoke began escaping from the eaves.
A hydrant was located at the end of a long, winding driveway. The first-due Lake Forest engine and the Knollwood quint had to navigate the challenging road with some difficulty. Fire was found in the void space beneath the first floor and later spread into walls on the second level.
As the situation developed, the alarm was upgraded to a third alarm to bring in additional units for support in case the fire became more difficult to control. Fortunately, the fire was contained quickly, preventing major structural damage. Temperatures were just above freezing, with a dangerously low windchill making conditions especially harsh for responders.
Multiple fire departments from surrounding areas responded, including Lake Forest, Knollwood, Highwood, Mundelein, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Beach Park, Highland Park, Grayslake, Lake Villa, Wauconda, Round Lake, Countryside, Gurnee, Great Lakes, Fox Lake, Lincolnshire, Northbrook, Long Grove, Barrington Countryside, and Quad 2 Mobile Command Post. Several chief officers and ambulances were also on scene.
The cold weather added to the challenge, but crews worked efficiently to bring the fire under control. Photos captured the scene, showing fire trucks lined up along the narrow street and firefighters in action. Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk documented the event, providing a visual record of the response.
The full set of images will soon be available on Larry Shapiro’s website.