Buffalo Grove Fire Department firefighter/paramedics responding to a pedestrian hit by a car near Lake Cook Road and Buffalo Grove Road at about 6:00 p.m. Friday night.

Possible serious injuries at the accident scene.

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Naperville Fire Department requested an extra alarm about noon Thursday for a fire at 1651 Frontenac where a factory was reported to have an explosion involving calcium chloride. At high temperatures or when moistened in fire conditions, calcium chloride can produce toxic or irritating fumes. Calcium chloride, mixed with hot water, can cause violent boiling, therefore calcium chloride incidents are not fought with water. The extinguishing agent used was road salt, which arrived by the truckload at about 2:00 p.m.

Area fire departments were putting out spot fires in the area of the explosion. It is unknown if water was being used on some of the spot fires.

Odermath is listed for the address at 1651 Frontenac. According to Odermath’s website, the company is one of the leading partners in the field of molten metal treatment technology for iron and steelworks, foundries and the non-ferrous industry.

The extra alarm was struck out at 4:00 p.m. Thursday. Fire department equipment is remaining on the scene and is involved in cleanup and decontamination.

A branch of the Illinois Prairie Path passes directly south of the Odermath USA facility.

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Video of the crash scene where a white BMW sedan crashed into the south wall of a house on Cedar Glen Drive.

Arlington Height police and Arlington Heights firefighter/paramedics responded to a report of a car into a house about 11:00 p.m. Wednesday. A white BMW sedan crashed into the south wall of a house in the 2300 block of South Cedar Glen Drive. Four people, two males and two females, were seen running eastbound after the crash. The four were apprehended on the grounds of John Jay School about one block east of the crash scene.

Someone at the scene was transported to Northwest Community Hospital — any injuries appeared minor. Arlington Heights Fire Department firefighter/paramedics returned to the scene after getting the call for assistance for an injury. They had been turned back prior because the report was that there were no injuries.

A K-9 unit was called in to help with the search. The driver was a young female. At least one person was transported to Arlington Heights Police Department headquarters.

Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District was called for an extra alarm Diver’s Box about 1:15 p.m. after a crew member from US Aqua Vac of Colorado was reported to be trapped under water and out of air in the east pond of 1 Baxter Parkway North in Deerfield. Several area fire departments assisted the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Department as part of the mutual aid agreement for the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. Firefighter/divers were able to remove Michael Johnson and provide Advanced Life Support. Michael Johnson was airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, but was pronounced dead at 3:23 p.m. Tuesday.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office identified the man as Michael Johnson, 45, of Fountain, Colorado, who was a diver who worked for US Aqua Vac — contracted by Baxter to clean ponds on the property.

A co-worker attempted to rescue Johnson, but was unable to sustain his work due to hypothermia.

Lake County sheriff’s police are investigating the drowning, which is believed to be an accidental death.

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Fire scene on Grove Drive in Buffalo Grove immediately after firefighters quickly put out a serious fire that was contained to one unit.

Buffalo Grove Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in a bed in the 700 block of Grove Drive about 1:00 p.m. Tuesday. Responding firefighters reported smoke showing well before they arrived on the scene as they approached on Dundee Road. An Arlington Heights Fire Department engine company, which is automatically due to the affected building and a Buffalo Grove Fire Department fire engine were first on the scene. Firefighters reported flames showing out the windows upon arrival. Those two fire units performed a quick knockdown of the fire.

No injuries were reported, but several people have temporarily been displaced from their residences. The Red Cross is helping families and utility companies are working to restore utilities so that most people can return to their residences, hopefully tonight.

Fire departments from Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Long Grove, Palatine, Wauconda, Wheeling and others assisted Buffalo Grove by providing station coverage or responding directly to the fire scene.

Video of South Incident Command showing train cars off the track and rolled down the embankment of the Shermer Road railroad viaduct.

Two freight trains belonging to Canadian Pacific Railway struck each other just after 3:00 p.m. No injuries were reported, however some power lines were damaged and the railroad bridge over Shermer Road was damaged. Full story from The Cardinal: Extra Alarm HazMat Response for Major Train Derailment Near Willow and Shermer …

Video of North Incident Command (location of main MABAS Division 3 Command Center) showing train car pileup near Shermer Road south of Willow Road.


Video of five locomotives of northbound train idling just south of Techny Road.

The last video of idling locomotives is mostly for train buffs and people who are interested in the locomotives that were pulling the northbound train that derailed Sunday in Northbrook and Glenview. The powerful sound of the idling locomotives will please train buffs, but for others be warned … The Cardinal doesn’t want to be accused of wasting your time with a boring video.

Between 2:55 and 3:24 time markers, you can see the markings of one of the locomotives — Iowa Chicago & Eastern. Also, at about 1:51 you can see a small sprite-like flash at the top of one of the locomotives. If anyone wants to comment on what that is, please do.

Could that be a tanker of Jim Beam, just behind the locomotives shown at the beginning of the video? Let The Cardinal know.

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