Orland Fire Protection District crews battled two apartment fires in below freezing temperatures in Orland Park over the weekend.
Fire severely damaged a second-floor apartment Saturday night in a building in the 15100 block of El Cameno Terrace.
Residents had evacuated the building before firefighters arrived so no one was injured.
Firefighters helped find temporary shelter for several residents of the apartment and the building.
The fire was reported about 10:30 p.m. in the multi-family building and was quickly brought under control and extinguished. Temperatures were in the 20s at the time.
Palos and Tinley Park firefighters assisted in putting out the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The second apartment fire was reported at 1 p.m. Sunday in a 12-unit multi-family condo building in the 15800 block of Orlan Brook Drive. Temperatures were in the single digits.
An occupant called a relative who notified the fire department that her unit was filling up with smoke. Upon arrival, crews found smoke in a second-floor condo.
Firefighters pulled down ceilings and found burning insulation next to a furnace in the attic above the second-floor unit. The fire was quickly brought under control.
Firefighters evacuated the building after they arrived.
One resident was displaced by the fire and will be staying with relatives. That unit was declared not habitable at this time.
Tinley Park firefighters assisted in battling the fire.
That fire is also under investigation.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires between the months of December and February with 20 percent of all home heating fires occurring in January.
Fire Chief Michael Schofield, who was at the scene of the fire, reminded 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 majority of heating fires can be prevented by making sure heating equipment is in good working order. NFPA offers these tips and guidelines for safely heating your home this winter:
- 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 from 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.
For more information visit www.OrlandFire.org.
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