2 Injured on Front Lawn Were Neighbors Who Attempted Rescue at Fatal House Fire on S Oak St, Palatine

#ad▼

UPDATE: ABC 7 Chicago is reporting fire investigators concluded Saturday afternoon that the fire was an accidental electrical fire that started in one the bedrooms.

Palatine Fire Department on Friday, May 15, 2015 at 8:18 p.m. responded to a report of a house fire at 150 South Oak Street in Palatine. The first Palatine Fire Department crews arrived on the scene at 8:21 p.m. and reported smoke coming from the roof and second floor windows. Palatine’s Battalion Chief also reported two victims in the front yard and immediately requested two additional ambulances to the scene. The two people in the front yard were neighbors that attempted a rescue before firefighters arrived. One man suffered a serious cut on his leg while kicking a window to gain entry. His wife was also injured. Both neighbors were released from the hospital by Saturday afternoon.

Neighbors outside reported occupants were still inside the house and trapped. The first fire companies made entry into the house through the front door and second floor windows for search and rescue. Additional fire companies pulled fire attack hose lines for fire suppression. Two female victims were found on the second floor. A semi-conscious female, approximately 20-years-old, was found near the living room, and her 63-year-old mother was found unconscious near a bedroom. Both were transported to Northwest community hospital. Despite life saving measures, the 63-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital. The daughter received treatment and was being transferred to Loyola Medical Center for burns. No other victims were found in the home. Two neighbors who made attempts to enter the burning home before fire department arrival were treated and transported to St Alexis Hospital in Hoffman Estates. Both are in stable condition.

The fire was under control within 15 minutes of arrival.

The house sustained heavy fire damage and is uninhabitable. Damage estimates are not available at the time of this release, and the fire remains under investigation by Palatine Fire Department, Palatine Police Department, and the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The fire was fought by 36 firefighters, staffing 4 engines, two ladder trucks, one rescue squad and eight ambulances which responded to the scene along with four command officers. Ambulances from the Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Palatine Rural Fire District, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg Fire Departments assisted in medical treatment and transport of victims and fire ground support.

The Palatine Fire Department reminds everyone to have working smoke detectors in their homes, whether a single-family dwelling, an apartment or a condo. Have an escape plan, practice it, and be prepared to use it in the event of any fire.


Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …

Search Amazon …

Search for products sold on Amazon:

Arlingtoncardinal.com is an Amazon Associate website, which means that a small percentage of your purchases gets paid to Arlingtoncardinal.com at no extra cost to you. When you use the search boxes above, any Amazon banner ad, or any product associated with an Amazon banner on this website, you help pay expenses related to maintaining Arlingtoncardinal.com and creating new services and ideas for a resourceful website. See more info at Arlingtoncardinal.com/AdDisclosure