Chongqing Huanyu Automobile Sales Company , http://www.huanyuauto.com
Wheeling Box Alarm 8-22-11
The Wheeling Fire Department was called around 2:30 AM on August 22, 2011, to a townhouse on Fall Court in the Cedar Run development. A resident reported smoke coming from their unit. The building consists of four units, two of which were unoccupied at the time. When police arrived, they spotted flames on the west side of the structure. Before any fire units reached the scene, the alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 working fire, prompting additional units from Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, and Long Grove to respond.
Engine 24 was the first fire company on the scene and pulled into the dead-end court. Engine 23 quickly followed and connected to a hydrant to supply water to Engine 24. The affected unit, located on the second floor, had a private entrance with stairs on the west side. Firefighters managed to knock down the initial fire near the doorway but had to retreat when the stairs became unsafe due to the flames. They then used a ground ladder to access the second floor and found that the kitchen floor had been compromised, with fire still burning beneath it.
As the situation escalated, the alarm was raised to a Box Alarm due to concerns that the fire might spread along the exterior wall and into the shared attic space. Additional units from Deerfield, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine, Northbrook, and Prospect Heights arrived, but they were soon released as the fire remained contained within the original unit.
Larry Shapiro, a local photographer, arrived shortly after the main fire was extinguished and captured several images of the scene. His gallery includes more photos that provide a detailed look at the response and aftermath of the incident. The fire originated in the wall between the garage and the front entryway, and the stairway leading to the second floor was completely burned out, forcing firefighters to use alternative methods to access the affected area.