“Huge fire” damages UFC Gym in Orland Park Thursday
The Orland Fire District responded at 2:31 pm on Thursday, June 20, 2024 to a reported fire in the UFC Gym located at 66 Orland Square Drive, Unit C, in the Orland Park Mall complex.
Multiple 911 calls were received for a fire in the rear of the gym in the vicinity of the electrical panels. Companies arrived on the scene and found fire running up the walls in the storage area. The fire was spreading quickly because of the storage of combustibles near the electrical panels.
Orland Firefighters determined the electrical panels needed to be de energized, and Com Ed was called to the scene. Fire companies arriving on the scene deployed hand lines to extinguish the fire.
Crews had to assist with searching the fire building as well as neighboring businesses, Gizmo’s and Skyzone, which were open and filled with occupants.
A rapid primary searched revealed the gym had been evacuated and was unoccupied. A battalion Chief on the scene described it as a “huge fire.” No one was injured.
The occupants at the UFC Gym were already out of the structure and the business quickly filled with heavy smoke from floor to ceiling.
The fire was quickly brought under control. Crews prevented spread to the other businesses and contained the smoke to the gym.
Multiple fire crews from the Orland Fire District arrived on the scene and were assisted with with fire control, search and rescue, and overhaul of the structure. A MABAS specialized ventilation fan unit was brought to the scene because of the intense and large volume of smoke.
Crews went to the roof and cut vent holes to aid in ventilation.
A full still alarm was called to provide additional manpower and equipment to the scene and to back fill Orland stations. A box alarm was activated for additional resources because of air temperatures exceeding 90 degrees, high humidity, and additional rehab activities. There were no injuries at this time.
The fire is under investigation at this time. The fire is being investigated by the Orland Fire District “Origin and Cause Team” and by the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office.
The UFC Gym is currently uninhabitable and the damage was extensive. Gizmos and Skyzone were also closed until electrical repairs can be made.
Other departments providing coverage and manpower were Palos Fire, Tinley Fire, Palos Heights, Lemont Fire, North Palos, Homer Fire, Evergreen Park, Crestwood, Oak Forest and other MABAS departments.
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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