No Injuries In 2 Apartment Fires In Same Weekend: Orland Fire

ORLAND PARK, IL — No one was injured, but several residents were seeking temporary shelter after two separate fires at apartment buildings in Orland Park over the weekend.

On Saturday night, crews were called around 10:30 p.m. to a fire in the 15100 block of El Cameno Terrace. A fire in the second floor of the multi-family building was quickly brought under control, and severely damaged one unit, said Orland Fire Protection District Spokesperson Ray Hanania.

All residents had evacuated prior to the Orland Fire Protection District's arrival on scene, Hanania said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crews the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 19, were called to a 12-unit, multifamily condo building in the 15800 block of Orlan Brook Drive. A resident of the building reported that her unit was filling with smoke, Hanania said. Firefighters found smoke in a second-floor unit, Hanania said. Ceilings were pulled, and crews found an attic fire above.

The fire was adjacent to the furnace, involving insulation and structural components, officials reported. The fire was contained.

The resident did not evacuate until after Orland Fire Protection District firefighters arrived. The fire left one unit uninhabitable; the resident will be staying with family, officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Orland Fire Protection District Cause and Origin team.

Fire Chief Michael Schofield, who was at the scene of the fire, reminds homeowners and residents to have their heaters professionally inspected annually, especially during winter months.

"Annually having your heater cleaned and inspected is important to prevent any situation in which the heater might become the cause of the fire," Schofield said.

"Our investigators are examining the property to determine the cause of the fire which was found adjacent to the heater unit. But it is a reminder that with the winter comes more concerns about home and apartment fires."

The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) offers these tips for heating safety:

• Heating equipment and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3-feet (1- meter) away form all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
• Create a 3-foot (1-meter) "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
• Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used per the manufacturer's instructions. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container, which should be placed outside at least 10 feet away from your home.
• All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
• If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call 911 or your gas company.
• Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are located throughout the home; test them monthly to ensure that they are working properly