Police, firefighters, and paramedics from Palatine responded Friday night to an apartment fire on Northwest Highway just southeast of Hicks Road at the two-story Fleetwood Center strip mall building with retail and service businesses on the first floor and apartments above. The building is located just north of Photo’s Hotdogs.
Key Points
Fire visible from a 2nd floor apartment
Response upgraded to “Working Fire”
No Injuries reported
The Palatine Fire Department responded at 6:31 p.m. Friday, December 5, 2025 to an activated fire alarm at a two-story multi-use building located at 325 North Northwest Highway in Palatine. While units were responding, Northwest Central Dispatch System 9-1-1 advised that a caller was reporting an active fire in the building.
According to Palatine Fire Department, fire units arrived on the scene three minutes later and reported fire showing from a second-floor apartment in the rear of the structure. The fire department response was immediately upgraded to a “Working Fire” alarm level. Crews advanced hose lines, located the fire, and quickly brought the fire under control. The fire was out fifteen minutes after the arrival of the first unit. Firefighters used thermal-imaging cameras to conduct primary searches throughout the building; no victims were found. Overhaul operations confirmed the fire was contained to the single apartment of origin, with no extension into other units.
No emergency responders or civilians were injured during this incident.
ComEd and Nicor Gas responded to assist with isolating shut off of utilities to the affected unit.
Palatine Fire Investigators completed an origin and cause investigation before releasing the property back to management. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damage estimates were unavailable at the time of this release.
The fire was fought by 25 firefighters staffing four engines, one ladder truck, one rescue squad, and four ambulances. Additionally, four command officers from Palatine Fire Department responded to the scene. The Palatine Fire Department was supported by fire companies from the Arlington Heights Fire Department and the Rolling Meadows Fire Department.
Palatine Police officers provided traffic and crowd control.
The Palatine Fire Department reminds everyone to have working smoke detectors in their homes, whether they live in a single-family dwelling, an apartment, or a condominium. For more information on fire safety, visit palatine.il.us/431/Public-Education …
The information in this article is an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police or fire authorities.
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