A structural fire in unincorporated Orland Township Tuesday night, after an earlier inspection from a suspected lightning strike found nothing, left a home uninhabitable.
The Orland Fire Protection District responded to the 16500 Block of Lee Avenue following multiple 911 calls from the homeowner claiming he suspected his house was struck by lightning.
In the initial 911 call, the homeowner said he felt his house shake and was experiencing electrical issues after what he believed was a lightning strike, but there were no other signs of trouble, according to a fire district news release.
The homeowner told officials he walked through the house to check all the rooms and the attic but did not see any damage.
“It is always better to be safe than sorry and the homeowner did the right thing contacting us,” fire Chief Mike Schofield said in the release. “We immediately sent an investigation team including two fire engines and a fire truck to the home even before his second call came in reporting that he had started to smell smoke.”
At 10:42 p.m., the homeowner called 911 again reporting a smoke odor permeating from the home.
Fire officials upgraded their response and reported a structure fire. After firefighters arrived on the scene, they found heavy smoke coming from the back end of the house, officials said.
Firefighters located the fire in the attic and found it venting through the roof and eves. The fire district and other assisting companies used two handlines and an aerial ladder to quickly bring the flames under control.
There were no reported injuries and the homeowner, along with his dog, escaped the fire, officials said.
Fire districts in Tinley, Mokena, Palos, North Palos, Frankfort and assisted the Orland Fire District. The fire was investigated by the Orland Fire District origin and cause team.
While the fire district was able to preserve much of the homeowner’s belongings with tarps while they put out the flames, the home is uninhabitable and the homeowner is staying with friends, officials said.
smoilanen@chicagotribune.com
