Plumbing Renovations Lead to Apartment Building Fire

No one was injured Tuesday morning when a fire in an apartment building followed piping through two floors into the attic.

The North Palos Fire Protection District was called about an apartment fire in the 8200 block of Juniper Court around 9:20 a.m. Firefighters met with a plumber on scene who was heating pipes to break them loose and replace them, said North Palos Fire Chief Dan Russell at the scene.

“Heat met the insulation and flames went straight through the second floor into the attic through the plumbing chase,” Russell said. “The flames had a clear vertical path to travel.”

The fire took about 15 minutes to mitigate. It left minimal smoke and water damage, but dry wall throughout the affected areas will need replacing, Russell said.

“Both the first and second-floor units are uninhabitable,” Russell said.

Firefighters from Chicago Ridge, Bridgeview and Roberts Park assisted on scene, as well as Palos Hills police officers.

“Homeowners need to be sure when hiring a contractor that he or she is licensed to work in this community,” Russell said.

Looking for more fire stories?

• Watch: An Alarmingly Simple Way to Avoid Becoming a Fire Victim
• Chimney Fire Sparks Blaze At Palos Home
• Blaze Damages Palos Hills Garage

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