Orland Hills fire damages 3 homes, displaces 2 families

A fire damaged three homes and displaced two families Monday afternoon in southwest suburban Orland Hills.

Around 1:30 p.m., Orland Fire crews responded to a call of two neighboring homes with fire showing through the roofs in the 9200 block of 162nd Street, according to village spokesman Ray Hanania.

The fire started at ground level between the houses and rapidly spread due to the siding and extended into the attics of both homes, causing smoke and fire damage to the living areas, Hanania said. The blaze also reached the deck of a third home, which was quickly put out by crews.

Discarded ashes from a fire pit placed in a plastic trash bin caused the fire, causing a gas line supplying one of the homes to melt, Hanania said. NICOR was on the scene to control the flow of natural gas.

Two hose lines, Tinley, Mokena and Oak Forest firefighters put out both blazes, Hanania said. No injuries were reported.

04-24-17 Orland Hills Home Fire 9200 Block of 162nd Street from Ray Hanania on Vimeo.

Orland Fire would like to remind residents, “… that ashes and coals from a fire pit may remain hot enough to start a fire for days after they appear extinguished. Wet down ashes in a fire pit when done and remove ash and coals into a metal bucket when it is cleaned out. Thoroughly wet the contents of the bucket and store it away from combustibles until removed on trash day.”