House fire in Sycamore, 4-4-19
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I just got this update from Art Zern:
Dispatched at 2156 hours for a structure fire, police arrived to find the building fully engulfed. Engine E-2 was first on scene and reported heavy fire on three sides with the "B" exposure starting to catch. They immediately called for a defensive strategy and began working with their deck gun and a pair of 2 1/2-inch hand lines on the B-side. Engine E-1 arrived shortly after and pulled a skid line to the D-side. Thanks to a quick initial response, DeKalb Tanker T-1 was quickly put to work, but structural concerns limited its effectiveness. The fire, fueled by natural gas, continued on the B-side until Nicor arrived to isolate and disconnect the gas supply. This was a general alarm situation requiring assistance from multiple neighboring departments including Cortland, GK Engines, Hampshire Truck, and COQ companies. Fortunately, there were no injuries to firefighters or residents—two people were evaluated for smoke inhalation but declined further medical attention. Initial damage estimates stand at around $300,000 for the primary structure and its contents, with an additional $50,000 needed for repairs to the neighboring house at 1311 Janet Street, which sustained heat damage. The cause remains undetermined pending further investigation.
This is from the Sycamore FD Facebook page:
Late last night, the department responded to a report of a structure fire in the 1300 block of Janet Street. Upon arrival, crews found the structure largely consumed by flames and quickly initiated a defensive attack using a master stream device with water from the engine's onboard tanks. The fire was brought under control in about an hour, though a gas-fed fire near the meter proved challenging until NICOR personnel could shut off the supply. Overhaul operations continued for another couple of hours as crews ensured the fire was completely extinguished.
The initial response was swift and effective, with significant help from mutual aid partners like DeKalb, Elburn, Genoa, and others. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries, though two individuals were checked out by medics on scene and opted not to go to the hospital. Damage estimates are roughly $300,000 for the main house and $50,000 for the adjacent structure. Neighboring departments, along with Sycamore police and public works, provided invaluable support throughout the incident.
Here are some photos from the scene:
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The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated. It’s good to see everyone working together to handle such a challenging situation.