Gas line fire at Meineke Park facility Schaumburg after construction contractor hits gas line (FIRE VIDEO: Nora Kochan/SCENE VIDEO: Cardinal News). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters and paramedics from Schaumburg responded about 11:04 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2025 to a report that a construction contractor hit a gas line, and that the natural gas ignited from the underground gas main at Meineke Park and Pool at 220 East Weathersfield Way in Schaumburg. Firefighters upon arrival discovered flames showing from the ground, but no fire in the building. However, firefighters needed to stream water on the building near the construction site to keep construction materials and the Meineke building from igniting due to exposure to the flames and heat from the burning natural gas.
Firefighters needed to continue applying water to the building and nearby materials until NICOR crews could discontinue the flow of gas to the pipe where the flames were erupting out of the ground. Without firefighters protecting these exposures, the building could have caught fire.
The gas leak was stopped by NICOR by about 12:15 p.m. Firefighters easily extinguished the flames once the source of natural gas stopped, and then soaked construction materials and the Meineke Park building to extinguish any possible hidden flames, and prevent heated materials from igniting.
Initially it did not appear that any interior parts of the building were damaged.
Everyone in the building was evacuated safely. Initially, there were no injuries reported. The facility was open during construction, but was closed for the day after the fire occurred. Initially, park district officials were not sure whether the facility would re-open Tuesday. Phase 1 renovation began June 5, 2025, which includes exterior renovation (mechanical upgrades, roof replacement, façade improvements), and interior renovation (lobby and corridor renovation, lighting improvement, and replacement of HVAC system). Phase 1 is expected to be completed in mid-September. Phase 2 details have not been announced, but the Phase 2 renovation is expected to begin in September.
During firefighting operations and gas line repairs, Weatherfield Way was closed to thru-traffic near the fire scene. Weathersfield Way was re-opened about 2:00 p.m.
A Few Clouds and 91 F at Chicago, Chicago-O’Hare International Airport via NOAA’s National Weather Service
Winds were Southwest at 9.2 MPH gusting to 24.2 MPH. The Air Pressure was 30.09 in Hg and the humidity was 54%. The heat index was 99°F on Monday, Juen 23 2025 at 11:51 am CDT.
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