Dupage Policy Journal

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — At 4:34 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received a call from a resident stating their home was struck by lightning and they believed it was on fire. Naperville 911(PSAP) dispatched a general alarm assignment consisting of 10 pieces of fire apparatus and 24 personnel, including an incident commander and incident safety officer, to the reported address. The two residents who were home at the time were able to safely evacuate prior to the fire department’s arrival.

At 4:40 a.m., the first vehicle arrived on scene and found a tree had fallen and sheared off a power line, causing it to arch against the aluminum siding. The energized line caused multiple small fires in the walls of the single-family home. Fire companies ensured all residents were out of the home and then quickly stretched hose lines to contain the fire. Fire suppression efforts were delayed, waiting for the power line to be de-energized at the pole. At 5:57 a.m., the fire was deemed under control. Fire companies remained on the scene another 30 minutes to ensure all hot spots were extinguished.

The Naperville Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the Naperville Police and Electric departments. Station coverage was provided by Bolingbrook and Wheaton fire departments. The cause of the fire was determined to be storm-related. There were no injuries to any occupants or firefighters while operating on scene. The building was deemed to be habitable by the Naperville Transportation, Engineering, and Development Team. The blaze is estimated to have caused $20,000 in damages.

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