Fires Damage two homes in Orland Park

Fires hit two homes in Orland Park over the Christmas Holidays, one on Christmas Day related to a fireplace and a second one the following day linked to a Christmas tree Orland Fire Prevent District officials reported.

Here are the two reports:

Fireplace fire in Orland Park home (Christmas Night Dec. 25)

Orland firefighters were called to the 14100 block of Michael Dr. in Orland Park, Illinois on Christmas night (Dec. 25, 2016) for a problem with a fireplace. Firefighters arrived within three minutes of receiving a 9-1-1 call from the resident just after 8:30 pm 12/25/2016.

First arriving units reported heavy smoke from the garage with a fire in the back of the garage.

Walls, chimney, and ceiling were quickly opened to expose the hidden fire and extinguish it in about ten minutes. The fire place in the home is located in the wall between the home and the garage.

Fire damage was limited to the inside of the frame chimney and some openings adjacent to it.

The residents were home at the time of the fire and escaped without injury.

Home fire in Orland Park suspected cause Fire Place, 14100 block of Michael Dr. in Orland Park. Photo courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District

Orland Fire was assisted by Palos Fire and several other neighboring departments covered the Orland stations during the home fire response.

The official cause of the fire is being investigated.

One person injured in Orland home fire, Christmas tree suspected as cause

The Orland Fire Protection District was called to a house fire at 13827 80^th Ave at 10:22 am on Monday December 26^th. The first Engine on the scene observed fire from the rear of the house.

Firefighters entered the house from the front door and encountered heavy fire during their attack. Two additional lines were pulled and used to attack the rear deck area and the garage.

The fire was under control in less than an hour but the house sustained heavy fire and smoke damage throughout.

The home owner was transported to Loyola Hospital’s burn unit sufferingfrom injuries sustained while attempting to put out the fire.

Fire Chief Michael Schofield said that homeowners should address a fire if it is very small and they can use a fire extinguisher.

“The first thing someone should do is make sure everyone is out of the premises and accounted for, and call 9-1-1,” Schofield said. “Outside of a very small fire, don’t battle a blaze by yourself. Leave the premises and wait for firefighters to arrive.”

Schofield said the fire at the home was intense.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated but firefighters said it started in or near a live Christmas tree that was in the home.

The Red Cross is assisting the other family members with their needs.

Fire at Orland Park home in the garage , 13827 80th Ave, that started near a Christmas Tree. Photo courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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