Apartment Fire Displaces Residents Into Freezing Cold Overnight

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — An overnight fire sent residents of an Arlington Heights apartment building out into freezing cold conditions early Friday in the 400 block of W. Rand Road and resulted in the arrest of an elderly man.

Police said an 80-year-old man who formerly lived in the building was arrested at the scene as a person of interest after the blaze originated in his apartment. He was taken into custody after making statements about the fire to police personnel. Police said his name will be released upon the conclusion of the investigation, along with a further explanation of facts and statements made by the suspect, which led to his arrest. No formal charges have been filed at this time.

Police and fire officials responded to the four-story building at 12:22 a.m. after smoke was seen coming out of the building. The first arriving crews reported a fully involved first floor unit. Due to the extremely low temperatures, the alarm was quickly upgraded to provide additional firefighters and resources.

All residents of the building were able to evacuate. One resident was evaluated and released on scene for smoke inhalation, according to the fire department. Seventy-five firefighters from 10 surrounding departments responded, and there were no firefighter injuries.

There are 95 apartment units in the building. While the total number of people evacuated and/or displaced due to the fire is not specifically known, none are believed to be without temporary housing arrangements. Police said one-third of the building remained uninhabitable Friday morning.

A Red Cross team is on site to assist residents.

Police and fire personnel responded to a 911 call regarding heavy smoke coming from the building. An investigation is ongoing, but it appears the fire originated from a first-floor unit. The first units at the scene reported billowing smoke and flames showing, as well as extension of the fire to the second floor of the building, above where the fire started.

Responding police officers were unable to make entry into the specific unit wherein the fire was centered due to heavy smoke and fire. Instead, fire crews conducted an expedited evacuation of the remainder of the building, to include each of the other 95 individual apartments.

Due to the substantive size of the fire, a number of additional nearby fire departments assisted Arlington Heights. Firefighters quickly attacked the flames and brought the structure fire under control, according to police.

Mutual aid and security of the scene was provided by neighboring police departments, and additional assistance was provided by neighboring fire departments, which supported routine calls for service in the community during the working fire.

An investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is being conducted by fire investigators and
police forensic technicians, in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

While most residents were allowed to return to their homes, approximately one-third of the apartment building (the wing where the fire originated) remains uninhabitable, according to police.