Police Rescue Trapped Residents During Apartment Fire: Palatine FD

PALATINE, IL — Four residents trapped in a second-floor apartment were rescued Saturday night during a residential fire in the 400 block of E. Northwest Highway. Two occupants were taken to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation, according to the Palatine Fire Department.

Police were first on the scene of the fire at around 9:56 p.m. and helped the four residents out of the building. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and found light smoke coming from a second-floor window. The initial fire crews searched the building for the fire and any other occupants. The fire was found in a first-floor business and was quickly extinguished.

The fire was declared under control at 10:20 p.m.

Officials said no firefighters were injured.

The fire was contained to the first-floor business, with other units sustaining minor to moderate smoke damage. Damage estimates were not immediately available, and the fire remains under investigation by the Palatine Fire Department.

According to fire officials, the fire was fought by 34 firefighters, staffing five engines, two ladder trucks, and four ambulances, which responded to the scene along with five command officers.

Firefighters from the Rolling Meadows and Arlington Heights Fire Departments assisted at the scene. During the incident, a unit from the Long Grove Fire Protection District stood by at Palatine Fire Station 82 to provide coverage for any additional calls. Palatine police officers assisted at the scene with traffic and crowd control.

The Palatine Fire Department reminds residents to have working smoke detectors in their homes and businesses. Working smoke detectors prevented this incident from being much worse, according to fire officials.