3 Fires Among Almost 300 Calls For Service Over Frigid Weekend: AFD

AURORA, IL — Aurora firefighters responded to almost 300 calls for service, including three working fires, over the weekend of extreme temperatures and snowstorms.

Wintry weather came in full force last week with multiple snowstorms and "bitterly to dangerously cold temperatures" over the weekend and into this week, the National Weather Service reported.

In a news release Tuesday, officials at the Aurora Fire Department said crews responded to three fires — two at houses deemed uninhabitable — within 24 hours. No residents were injured, but one firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated and released at the scene.

Two fires occurred in the early morning hours on Jan. 15: one was a residential house fire in the 100 block of North Locust Street, and the second was a detached garage fire in the 1100 block of Molitor Road. Another house fire occurred early the next morning in the 2200 block of Exeter Court, Fire Marshal Christopher Temes told Patch.

All fires were quickly brought under control using preconnected hose lines while some crews searched for any trapped victims, finding none, officials said. Authorities said the cold temperatures initially caused difficulties for water supply connections at the fire hydrants.

Extra personnel and a warming trailer were called to the scene due to the cold weather.

Crews remained on all scenes until they determined no further fire extension or hotspots. Officials said the impacted residents are staying with family.

The three fires remain under investigation by the Aurora Fire Department's Fire Investigation Team.