Police, firefighters and paramedics from Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District responded about 7:20 a.m. Monday, September 11, 2023 to a report of flames showing in a garage and spreading to the living area of a large 2-story house in the block of 1900 Rose Terrace in Riverwoods. One occupant, who was present in the house, was able to evacuate before firefighters arrived.
The fire was upgraded to a confirmed fire call by 7:23 a.m.
Battalion Chief 51, along with Engine 52’s crew on arrival, discovered a fully-involved attached 3-car garage fire. Battalion Chief 51 described that a transitional attack was underway. There was at least one vehicle already destroyed in the attached 3-car garage.
Fire Command reported firefighters were making progress by 7:37 a.m. with water on the fire and firefighters pulling ceilings on the second floor. Crews opened the interior walls and ceiling above the fire, and also opened the roof of the house to control and extinguish the fire. At one point flames were showing through the roof.
Most of the fire was reported knocked by 7:49 a.m., but fire command next reported at 7:57 a.m. that there was an increase in active smoke, indicating fire loss progressing again. A MABAS Division 4 Box Alarm was activated to the Box Level by about 7:57 a.m. and mutual aid firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from neighboring communities and fire districts responded to the scene. The fire was extinguished and extra alarm fire crews were released beginning about 8:50 a.m.
“Crews worked very hard and kept the main body of the fire in the garage, but some (fire) did migrate up into the attic space.”
— Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District
According to the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, a photo demonstrated that a closed door protected a room in the home, which would have been life-saving if an occupant had been in that room. The photo showed minimal damage in the closed-door room, which would have otherwise showed heavy damage from hostile conditions that would have threatened the lives of any occupants in that room.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and a damage estimate was not initially available. Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District’s activation of the mutual aid box alarm system for manpower brought mutual aid firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from Deerfield, Wheeling, Lake Zurich, Countryside, Libertyville, Lake Forest, Long Grove, and Mundelein fire departments and districts.
RED Center dispatch was responsible for dispatch and communications, and both Riverwoods and Lincolnshire police officers provided necessary assistance at the scene. Lincolnshire police officers assisted with traffic control at Duffy and Riverwoods.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal was called to the scene for the fire investigation, along with Lincolnshire-Riverwoods investigators.
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