Fire at Orland Park home; firefighters urge residents to clear snow from nearby fire hydrants
One resident treated for smoke inhalation in attached garage fire. Firefighters had to dig out fire hydrants that were hidden by accumulated snow shoveled and plowed from driveways. The Orland Fire Protection District urged residents to help ensure that the fire hydrants near their homes are uncovered and easily visibly in the event of a fire emergency
The Orland Fire Protection District received multiple 911 calls at approximately 5:06 PM on Tuesday (Feb. 9, 2021) for a fire in the garage in the 14000 block of Creek Crossing Drive.
Engine 3, ambulance 3 and Battalion 6 arrived on the scene and found a two-story single-family residence with heavy smoke coming from an attached garage.
The garage door was closed and reports that the homeowners were already out of the structure. Fire crews made an aggressive attack on the fire and prevented the fire from getting into the attic and interior of the house.
Multiple crews from the Orland Fire Protection District arrived on the scene and assisted with fire control, search and rescue, and overhaul of the garage.
While firefighting, crews treated a resident that was suffering from smoke inhalation. The patient was treated and transported ALS by Orland Fire District ambulance. His condition is unknown at this time.
A full Still Alarm was called to provide additional manpower and equipment to the scene and to back-fill Orland Fire district stations to cover additional calls. There was minimal smoke damage that had extended into the home. The quick attack by by fire crews prevented further damage and as a result of this action the home was habitable and the occupants could stay there if they chose to.
Fire crews had difficulty, however, locating fire hydrants due to the fact that they were covered over by snow. Fire officials remind residents to take the time to dig out your neighborhood fire hydrants so that we can find them easily. Valuable time can be wasted on the fire scene trying to locate hydrants needed for water.
Orland Fire Protection DIstrict Fire Chief Michael Schofield said that OFPD firefighters are out shoveling snow from hydrants, but added it is a long process because there are so many in the district, several thousand that need to be cleared of snow covering.
“It’s really important that residents not cover fire hydrants with snow when they shovel or plow their driveways,” Schofield said.
“It’s an urgent matter. Every homeowner should check the hydrants located near their homes and remove the snow from around them to ensure that they are easily identified in the event of a fire emergency. Our fire fighters are out there clearing snow from hydrants but there are a lot of fire hydrants and the assistance of the community is important.”
The fire is currently under investigation by the Orland Fire District Investigation Team. Other fire departments providing coverage and manpower included Palos Fire District, Tinley Park, North West Homer, Palos Heights, Crestwood, and North Palos.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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