Story posted Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Fire Damages Empty Office Building
Firefighters work to enter the damaged office building on Friday. (Photo for the Journal by Jack Svetlik)
Fire severely damaged a vacant office building in Executive Office Plaza in Park Ridge the evening of Friday, June 26.
Two passers-by contacted the fire department at about 6:05 p.m. with reports of smoke coming from the building at 225 W. Touhy Avenue near Washington Avenue. Firefighters observed smoke coming from the roof and battled the fire until bringing it under control at about 7:30 p.m.
There was severe fire damage to the second floor and significant smoke and water damage to the first and second floors.
One firefighter received a minor laceration and was treated and released from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Park Ridge fire investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the fire. The State Fire Marshal's Office assisted with a canine unit that determined no accelerants were used to start the fire.
Engine companies from Glenview and North Maine Fire Protection District were called to assist, along with ladder trucks from Rosemont, Niles, and Norwood Park Fire Protection District. A rescue squad from Morton Grove and ambulances from Elk Grove Village and Des Plaines along with engines from Schiller Park and Wheeling fire departments also responded. The Buffalo Grove Fire Dept. provided an ambulance to provide coverage to the rest of the city while Park Ridge firefighters were on the fire scene.
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