Volunteer Support: Neighbors Alert Firefighters, Comfort Residents During Fire

Neighbors came to the aid of fellow Orland Hills residents, when a gas meter fire broke out Wednesday afternoon.

The Orland Fire Protection District was alerted around 3 p.m. Wednesday about the fire in the 9300 block of Pepperwood Lane by neighbors near the residence who went to Fire Station 4 about a block away, according to a release from the district.

The fire rose about eight feet into the air and was close to the house’s second floor, according to the district.

Flames were extinguished before further damage happened, but methane was still leaking and three nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. NICOR was brought in to fix the link coming from a damaged pipe below the shut-off valve, according to the release. NICOR staff found the leaking pipe in the house’s yard and stopped the leak, according to the district.

The residents took shelter from the high heat at the nearby fire house, and the neighbors brought them chairs and water while firefighters worked to contain the fire, according to the release.

While no one was injured, the extreme heat made the fire more hazardous for civilians and emergency responders at the scene.

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