Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A structure fire in the 300 block of Rt. 30/Lincoln Highway in Chicago Heights left firefighters with no choice but to close the busy thoroughfare before rush hour Friday. Just after 4:00 PM as we approached, there were no ambulances on the scene and firefighters were spraying a steady stream of water from a ladder truck into what appeared to be the second-floor window of a home.
An officer from Chicago Heights aiding in blocking and directing traffic on the west side of the fire said he had just started his shift and was unaware if anyone was in the structure when it caught fire or if anyone was hurt. An official answering calls at the non-emergency line at the Chicago Heights Police Department Friday after 8:30 PM was also unaware if anyone was home at the time the fire broke out or if all who might have been there made it out safely.
Trucks from at least three companies were present in the afternoon. There were two ladder trucks present, one from Chicago Heights, and the other from Matteson. Park Forest also had at least one truck on the scene.
Lincoln Highway was still blocked over four hours later, after 8:00 PM, when we drove by a second time with lights from emergency vehicles flashing.
Video of firefighters battling the blaze follows below.
