Orland Firefighters battle separate apartment and home fires Friday night
Three residents treated for minor injuries at the scenes, and one firefighter was taken to the hospital with heat exhaustion and released.
Firefighters of the Orland Fire Protection District battled two separate fires hours apart on Friday night, one at an apartment building and another at a home. Injuries were reported at both with residents and one firefighter.
Two residents and a firefighter were treated for injuries at the apartment fire at 7400 Block of Sycamore Court scene.
The residents declined transport to the hospital, but a firefighter was transported to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment for heat-related injuries. The firefighter suffered heat exhaustion, fire officials said.
One resident was treated for minor injuries at the scene of a home fire at 15300 Block of St. James Drive but declined to be transported to a hospital.
The Sycamore apartment fire was reported at 8:12 PM and the St. James Home fire was reported at 11:37 PM, both Friday evening.
“Two residents were treated at the scene of the Sycamore apartment fire but declined transport to the hospital. However, a firefighter was injured with heat exhaustion and was taken to Silver Cross Hospital where he was treated and later released,” Interim Chief John Purtill said.
“One resident at the St. James home fire was treated at the scene for minor injuries but declined transport to the local hospital. No firefighters were injured at that fire location.”
Purtill said the firefighter who was treated for heat exhaustion was released from the hospital and is returning to work.
“We are grateful that no residents were seriously injured at either fire location thanks to the fast response from our fire crews,” Chief Purtill said.
“The firefighter who was taken to Silver Cross Hospital from the Sycamore apartment fire is in good condition. He is returning to work, and we are all relieved.”
Firefighters at the Sycamore apartment location arrived to find a fire venting from the attic space.
Crews deployed two handlines. One was sent to the back for an exterior attack and one handline was sent through the front door to the 3rdfloor for an interior attack. The fire was extinguished in approximately 20 minutes.
Firefighters at the St. James home found a fire blazing from the 2nd floor bedroom in the back of the property and the fire was immediately upgraded.
Crews deployed two handlines for an interior attack. The fire was extinguished in approximately 15 minutes. one resident was treated on scene and refused transport to the hospital.
“The causes of both fires are under investigation, but firefighters responded quickly to ensure the safety of residents in and around the two locations, which occurred several hours apart,” Chief Purtill said.
Orland Fire was assisted at both fire locations by Palos, North Palos, Tinley Park, Frankfort, North Palos, Mokena, and Oak Forest.
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