Aurora, IL — At approximately 4:55 a.m. on May 26, the Aurora Fire Department responded to an emergency call for a two-story duplex fire. The firefighters reached the incident at the 1500 block of Andover Circle.
According to a news release by the Aurora Fire Department, firefighters arrived on the scene where flames and smoke came from the first and second floors. The crew faced setbacks when the initial hose line had issues from thermal compromise and conditions worsened. Once all were safely evacuated, the crew put a defense strategy in place. The firefighters continued their interior attack. With three hose lines, the firefighters brought the flames under control until they were completely extinguished.
“This was a difficult fire made more challenging by early setbacks and heavy fire conditions,” Chief Dave McCabe said in the news release.
Medics brought the homeowner to the hospital for smoke inhalation. They later transported the homeowner again for further care at another facility. A neighboring tenant was displaced during the incident. The fire took the lives of two cats and one dog. Several other pets are missing and the building has been claimed uninhabitable.
The responding unit was 29 people, including five engine companies, two truck companies, three medic units and three chief officers.
“Our crews remained focused, adapted quickly, and worked together to bring the fire under control while protecting adjacent units and everyone’s safety,” McCabe said.
The cause of this duplex fire remains under investigation.
