A fire that broke out inside a Park Ridge condominium unit Feb. 11 occurred nearly three years to the day that another blaze caused extensive damage within the same complex.
Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at 201 Thames Parkway in the Bristol Court complex around 7:30 p.m. and found heavy smoke coming from a unit just above the main lobby.
Park Ridge Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen said occupants of the unit were able to get out safely and residents from 35 other units within the four-story building were evacuated to the lobby. No injuries were reported.
The fire was contained to the unit in which it started and is believed to have occurred in the kitchen. A cause was not immediately determined, but it is considered accidental in nature, Sorensen said.
“The unit’s a complete loss,” he added.
Firefighters were reportedly able to extinguish the fire within about 20 minutes of the department receiving the alarm call. Despite cold temperatures and heavy snow accumulation on the grounds of the complex, there were no problems accessing water or locating the closest hydrant, Sorensen said. He added that “very little” water was needed to put out the fire.
Occupants of other units in the building began returning to their residences around 10 p.m., he said.
On Feb. 12, 2012, a fire in a fourth-floor condo at 500 Thames Parkway destroyed the unit and also resulted in damage to the roof of the building. Neighboring units also sustained water and smoke damage.
In that fire, as well as the one reported this month, fire alarms were the first to detect smoke and alert firefighters.
“We were able to make a quick response and attack because of that early notification system,” Sorensen said.
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