3 Residents, 1 Firefighter Injured In Apartment, House Fires Friday: Orland Fire

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland firefighters battled two separate fires hours apart Friday night, with injuries reported at both.

Two residents and a firefighter were injured during an apartment fire at 7400 Block of Sycamore Court just after 8 p.m. Orland Fire Protection District officials said.

The residents declined transport to the hospital, but a firefighter was taken to Silver Cross Hospital with heat-related injuries. The firefighter suffered heat exhaustion, fire officials said.

At the scene of a home fire at 15300 Block of St. James Drive at 11:30 p.m., one resident was injured but declined transport to a hospital. No firefighters were injured at that location, officials said.

Purtill said the firefighter who was treated for heat exhaustion was released from the hospital.

“We are grateful that no residents were seriously injured at either fire location thanks to the fast response from our fire crews,” Chief Purtill said.

“The firefighter who was taken to Silver Cross Hospital from the Sycamore apartment fire is in good condition. He is returning to work, and we are all relieved.”

Firefighters at the Sycamore apartment location arrived to find a fire venting from the attic space. Two handlines were used: one for an exterior attack, another for interior. The fire was extinguished in approximately 20 minutes.

Firefighters at the St. James home found a fire blazing from the second floor bedroom in the back of the property, and the fire was immediately upgraded.

Crews deployed two handlines for an interior attack. The fire was out in approximately 15 minutes, fire officials said.

“The causes of both fires are under investigation, but firefighters responded quickly to ensure the safety of residents in and around the two locations, which occurred several hours apart,” Chief Purtill said.

Orland Fire was assisted at both fire locations by Palos, North Palos, Tinley Park, Frankfort, North Palos, Mokena, and Oak Forest.