La Grange Park firefighters report there were several explosions, apparently caused by arcing electrical wires, while they were extinguishing a fire by a garage for a house on Blanchan Avenue, fire department officials said.
Power had been restored to the area only a few hours earlier, residents told the fire department.
When firefighters responded at 3:53 p.m. Tuesday, they saw two electrical lines down and a fire on the side of a detached garage, just north of 30th Street between Kemman and Blanchan avenues, La Grange Park Fire Chief Dean Maggos said in a statement.
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Firefighters had to navigate live high voltage electrical lines while they attacked the fire from multiple vantage points, Maggos stated.
The fire involved a shed, a wood fence, a utility pole and wood stored in the yard.
“There were several explosions during the fire, which appeared to be caused by arcing electrical lines,” La Grange Park Fire Chief Dean Maggos said.
One firefighter suffered from heat exhaustion and was treated by paramedics at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
“We believe the fire started when one of the electrical lines came down, but we are not sure why it came down,” Maggos said. Residents told firefighters they think the lines came down Tuesday and not during the storm the day before, Maggos said.
“Firefighters did a phenomenal job of keeping the fire from spreading, including limiting the damage to the garage and protecting most of the contents inside it,” Maggos stated.
The fire department said it had to wait until ComEd responded and shut the power off to the area before the fire could be completely extinguished. Firefighters remained at the scene into the evening.
Repairs are estimated to cost $9,000, according to the fire department.
Homeowners told firefighters their electricity had just come back on at about 1 p.m. Tuesday, since going out during Monday afternoon’s storm.
Lyons, Westmont, Riverside and Hillside fire departments covered calls to the La Grange Park fire stations during the fire.