Crime & Safety

Abandoned House Fire Blocked 159th Street Both Ways

The Orland Fire Protection District stopped an abandoned house fire Tuesday night without flames spreading to nearby trees.

Updated, 12:02 a.m. Wednesday, May 9

Orland firefighters faced an abandoned house fire Tuesday night, requiring 159th Street to be blocked east and west near Ravinia Avenue.

Personnel from an company saw smoke around 159th Street west of Ravinia Avenue, and found an abandoned house in the 10100 block of West 159th Street was on fire around 9:20 p.m.

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"They were getting fuel nearby, saw something and headed to the house," Acting Chief Raymond Kay said from the scene. "The structure has been vacant for over 20 years. A lot of fire went through the roof so there was no possibility of safe entry."

The house was unoccupied at the time and no one was injured, Kay said. The structure has not been maintained over the last two decades, which also contributed to the decision not to go inside.

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The fire was extinguished within an hour, and the fire didn't spread beyond the house into the nearby trees, Kay said.

The fire's cause is under investigation, according to the fire district.

Oak Forest Patch Editor Nick Swedberg contributed to this report.

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