The Lemont Fire Protection District was called to a house fire at about 1:37 a.m. Friday on Horseshoe Drive, where nobody was injured but the home was a total loss, according to a news release.
When firefighters first arrived, the fire was quickly spreading throughout the first floor of the home and extending to the second floor, according to the release. Firefighters tried an interior attack to control the fire, but had to switch to a defense strategy because of the nature of the fire, officials said.
Crews remained on the scene for another five hours after bringing the fire under control to extinguish hot spots and investigate the cause of the fire, officials said.
Firefighters fought the fire for nearly two hours before it was brought under control. An alarm seeking mutual aid from neighboring departments was activated due to a lack of water supply in the area.
Eighteen surrounding fire agencies provided on scene and station coverage during the fire. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to the news release.
Fire officials urged residents to identify a second exit from any commercial building and if a fire alarm sounds to leave the building until firefighters say it’s safe to reenter.
The news release urged residents to have an escape plan and to practice it to be prepared in the event of a fire.
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.