Contact: Executive Officer Paul Lisowski
plisowski@parkridgefd.org

December 5, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On Saturday December 3, 2022 at 1:36 PM, the Park Ridge Fire Department (PRFD) was dispatched to
the 600 block of Oakton St. for a reported house fire. While pulling out of Station 36, the PRFD Battalion
Chief reported significant smoke showing on Oakton Street and upgraded the response to a confirmed
fire which brought additional fire companies from neighboring fire departments to the scene. PRFD
personnel arrived at the scene in two minutes and found heavy fire coming from the rear of the home and
immediately initiated a transitional attack on the fire from the exterior and interior of the structure. The
homeowner was on location and informed PRFD that there were no other people in the home. After a few
minutes, the intensity of the fire caused operations to shift to a defensive attack using master streams
from multiple tower ladder trucks and larger hoselines from ground level. As soon as fire control was
achieved, crews made entry once again into the front of the structure to extinguish the remaining areas of
fire.

One firefighter was treated at the hospital for a minor burn injury but is expected to make a full recovery.
Park Ridge was assisted on scene by fire companies from the Des Plaines, Morton Grove, Niles, North
Maine, and Prospect Heights Fire Departments. Additionally, the Park Ridge fire stations were staffed by
mutual aid crews from the Morton Grove, Schiller Park, and Wheeling Fire Departments and the
Rosemont Public Safety Department.

Damage to the home is estimated to be $475,000. The fire originated on the back porch and was
determined to be accidental in nature.