MEC&F Expert Engineers : 04/15/18

Sunday, April 15, 2018

ROOFING CONTRACTORS CAUSE THE MASSIVE HINSDALE, ILLINOIS FIRE OF AMERICAN BEAUTY HISTORIC MANSION: 130-year old historic home goes up in smoke in massive fire in west suburban Hinsdale, Illinois; fire may have been caused by owners' efforts to restore roof






The house was constructed without fire stops in the walls, so the flames were able to spread quickly through the walls

 Fire that ravaged historic Hinsdale home may have been caused by owners' efforts to restore roof, they say


HINSDALE, Ill.:

The owners of the nearly 120-year-old Hinsdale house damaged by fire Wednesday said they will try to rebuild it, but they do not know if that is possible.

“The irony is we were trying to preserve it, by putting a new roof on,” said Neal Reenan.

“The very last bit was the flat roof,” said Jennifer Reenan.

The Reenans believe the blowtorch the roofers were using may have caused the fire.

The Hinsdale Fire Department said the contractors working on the house on the 300 block of East Sixth Street called 911 at about 3:30 p.m. and said the house was on fire.

Neal Reenan was out of the country and his wife was volunteering at their children’s school, the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove. As she was leaving the school with one of their three children between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. to head back home, she looked at her phone and saw she had many messages, including one from the roofer. She called him back and heard what was happening.

When she arrived at the house, where firefighters were putting water on the flames, she learned the family’s dog Ruby was still inside.

The firefighters knew the family had a dog and found the black Labrador hiding in the walk-in closet in the master bedroom.

“That is her hiding place when there are storms,” Jennifer Reenan said.

Her son breathed a big sigh of relief when he saw Ruby safely outside the house, she said.

The Reenans said they are overwhelmed by the support from friends and neighbors. They are offering to take the kids to school and sports. They’re loaning and buying clothes for the children to wear. One neighbor is keeping Ruby the dog at his house.

“They’re opening their homes to us,” Neal Reenan said. “Some of these people we have known for a long time and some we really don’t know.”


A neighbor picked up their other two children from track practice Wednesday.

One neighbor got her a glass of wine in the middle of it all, Jennifer Reenan said.

The Reenans are very grateful no one was injured and for the kindness everyone has shown.

“I wouldn’t have made it without them,” said Jennifer Reenan, with emotion in her voice.

The Reenan family in the summer of 2016 moved from Naperville into the Hinsdale house that local historians know as the American Beauty, because the first owner grew American Beauty roses commercially.

Parts of the two-and-a-half story house, built in the Colonial Revival style in 1899, have been modified through the years, but the original family’s history and architectural elements, such as canvas ceilings painted with rose motifs in the living room and drawing room, the sun parlor, china cupboards and fireplace mantels all from 1899, warranted its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.


The house’s historic character attracted them, as did the tennis courts on the side of the house, Neal Reenan said.

The former owners, the McGues, did a phenomenal job of restoring the house, Neal Reenan said, and he was continuing that effort.

“We are sad for the community,” Neal Reenan said. It is too soon to know whether the house can be restored, he said. “We hope it can.”

Hinsdale Fire Department officials said firefighters saw light smoke around the second-floor balcony on the west side of the house when they arrived. The contractors were there, but the house was locked and firefighters had to force their way inside.

While trying to find the origin of the fire, firefighters quickly determined the fire had extended into the walls and other empty spaces throughout the house. The house was constructed without fire stops in the walls, so the flames were able to spread quickly through the walls, Hinsdale Fire Chief John Giannelli said.

Nearly 100 firefighters from 20 different departments and fire protection districts responded to the fire to help. The fire was not extinguished until 8 p.m., the Hinsdale Fire Department reported. The cause is still being investigated, the department said late Wednesday.



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HINSDALE, Ill. (WLS) -- Firefighters battled a massive blaze at a historic home in west suburban Hinsdale Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency crews responded to the scene in the 300-block of East 6th Street.

The home was built in 1899 and is considered a national treasure once known as "American Beauty."

"It's heartbreaking. That house has been a mainstay in Hinsdale for 130 years," said Julie Laux, neighbor. "We've just lost a piece of history. We've lost a way to connect to our past. This is elegant and gracious and just a reminder of when life was so much different than it is right now."

Firefighters said the historic home was built in a much different way than modern construction, which made it burn more intensely.

"It's actually a balloon frame house, so the fire spreads very quickly," said Hinsdale Fire Chief John Giannelli. "Balloon frame means there is no fire stopping in that building, so once you get a fire inside a wall it can drop all the way to the basement, it can go all the way to the roof."

Firefighters fought flames and smoke inside the home for as long as they could, but eventually had to leave for their own safety.

"Conditions made it almost impossible to keep them on the third floor," Giannelli said.

Outside, crews doused the flames for hours, saturating the entire house with water.

The home's new owners were out of town, fire officials said. Firefighers were able to rescue their dog from the home.

"I'm devastated for these people. I don't know them but it's got to be absolutely heartbreaking. They've got little kids and all your personal belongings and memories," Laux said.

The cause of the fire is not known and an investigation is ongoing. No injuries were reported.



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The fire that killed one person at 185 Sunset Drive in Danville, VA was accidental and was caused by improperly discarded smoking material.










DANVILLE, Va. (WDBJ7)-- 


The Danville Fire Marshal's Office has determined the cause of a fatal Danville house fire that happened early Saturday morning.

The Fire Marshal's Office says the fire that killed one person at 185 Sunset Drive on Saturday was accidental and was caused by improperly discarded smoking material.

According to the Danville Fire Department, the identity of the person who died in the fire has not yet been released. The department is waiting for confirmation from the medical examiner's office.





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The fire that left an unidentified man dead Saturday morning in Danville was ruled accidental and “caused by improperly discarded smoking material,” the fire department reported Wednesday afternoon.

Officials did not identify the victim, stating they were waiting on confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s office.


The fire was reported at 185 Sunset Drive at about 4:15 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters arrived minutes later to find the one-story house fully engulfed.

A defensive attack was used, meaning firefighters fought the flames from outside the home. Due to the intensity, they weren’t able to search inside.

A family member told firefighters that most likely someone was in the home, the department reported.


Once the fire was brought under control at about 5 a.m., firefighters found a person dead inside.

This was the third fire crews battled in the overnight hours.




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DANVILLE, Va. (WDBJ7)



The Danville Fire Department Battalion Chief, Brian Alderson says one person was killed in an early morning house fire.

The Danville Fire Department had a busy night of calls, and responded to the house fire at 185 Sunset Drive around 4:15 a.m. Saturday.

Crews say they could see the fire several blocks away, and when they arrived on scene, found a small, one-story house with heavy fire showing.

Houses on both sides were also compromised by the fire, which they were able to knock down by about 5 a.m.

They say because the fire was so intense from the outside, crews weren’t able to search inside. A family member told crews there was most likely someone still inside, and once the fire was controlled, a search was conducted. They found one person dead inside. That person’s identity has not been confirmed.

The Fire Marshal’s Office and Danville Police Department are investigating this incident. The Danville Fire Department says this is the first civilian fatality of the year. Crews were still on scene as of 9 a.m. Saturday.

the deadly fire on Belmont Ave in Springfield, Mass. was caused by a child using matches; the fire killed Aden Abdakadr, and his two children, 2-year-old Ahmed Ahmed, and 1-year-old Fatumo Ahmed






Child using matches caused deadly fire on Belmont Ave in Springfield


By: Monica Ricci


Updated: Apr 11, 2018 06:48 PM EDT


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The cause of the deadly fire on Belmont Avenue in Springfield has been released.

State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said the fire was caused by a child using matches.

The announcement was made during a news conference at Springfield Fire Department headquarters Wednesday afternoon.

The March 18 fire at 49 Belmont Avenue left dozens of people homeless, and resulted in the deaths of Aden Abdakadr, and his two children, 2-year-old Ahmed Ahmed, and 1-year-old Fatumo Ahmed.

A joint investigation by Springfield Fire and Police Departments, the State Fire Marshal's Office and ATF determined that the fire started in the second floor apartment where the victims lived.

Springfield Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi could not comment how old the child is. They say the child was playing with matches in the second floor of the Belmont Avenue apartment. Commissioner Clavi told 22News even though this was an accident there are ways to prevent this from happening again.

"At the appropriate time in the grieving process we'll offer fire education to the child and make sure she's taken care of," Commissioner Clavi said.

From 2012-2016 there were 531 child and youth set fires reported in Massachusetts causing 14 injuries. Ostroskey told 22News that fire education starts at home.

"We know that every fire starts small and every fire has the ability to take a life," said Ostroskey. "Which is why adults need to take every fire use by children and youth seriously."

The investigation also determined that the battery-operated smoke alarm inside the apartment did not work, and residents were notified of the danger by smoke alarms in the hallways.

The four story apartment had 20 units with one and two bedrooms. At least 80 people were left without a home, many of whom Springfield Fire Commissioner Calvi said were immigrants.

"The fire department is working with the elders and leaders of the Somali and other refugee communities to provide fire safety education in order to prevent another tragedy,” Calvi said.

As for the current status of the building, the 49 Belmont Avenue side is not being occupied at this time.
Most apartments on the Leyfred Terrace side have been reoccupied.

Commissioner Calvi told 22News that residents who haven't returned to the apartment are staying with close friends and family.

The Belmont Avenue building was not required to have a fire suppression sprinkler system.

A construction worker was critically injured after falling about 40 feet while working on a building at Tanner Williams Assembly of God Church outside Mobile, Alabama








GOD COULD NOT SAVE HIM


MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) -

A construction worker was airlifted to a hospital Thursday after falling about 40 feet while doing a job at a church in Wilmer, according to firefighters.

The Seven Hills Volunteer Fire Department responded to Tanner Williams Assembly of God around 1:45 p.m.

The man who fell was working on a day care under construction at the church.

The man's condition is unknown at this time, and his name has not been released.



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Mobile County construction worker injured in fall 


Thursday, April 12th 2018 MOBILE COUNTY, AL (WALA) -


A construction worker was taken to the hospital Thursday after falling on the job.

Officials said he was working on a building at Tanner Williams Assembly of God Church when he fell 40 feet to the ground.

The victim was airlifted to the hospital for treatment. Details about his condition are not known at this time.


One Charleston, WV city sanitation employee was killed and two other were injured in a garbage truck crash on I-77 Saturday afternoon




CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — One Charleston city employee was killed and two other were injured in a crash on I-77 Saturday afternoon.

At about 12 p.m. Saturday afternoon a Charleston garbage truck crashed on I-77 near the I-64, ejecting all three passengers who were in the truck.

The extent of the injuries suffered by the other two passengers has not been released at this time.

Southbound lanes were shut down for several hours, but have since reopened.

No names have been released at this time.



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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A city sanitation worker was killed and two other workers injured in an interstate crash at just before noon Saturday.

The wreck occurred southbound on Interstate 77 near the Westmoreland exit. The truck overturned and all three workers were ejected from the vehicle.

The names of those involved haven’t been released. The other two other workers suffered serious injuries.

Charleston police are investigating.

The southbound lanes at the I-77/I-64 split reopened by 6 p.m. Two northbound lanes remained remained closed near the Westmoreland exit.

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All Interstate 77 southbound traffic was forced to go westbound on I-64 in the Capital City Saturday afternoon at the I-77/I-64 split after a garbage truck crash.

Authorities expected the southbound split to be closed until at least 6 p.m.

The wreck came at around 11:44 a.m. near the southbound Westmoreland exit.

There was no initial word on injuries.

Kanawha Metro 911 sent out the following message at around 1 p.m.:

I64 EB in the I 77 / 64 split is closed. All I77 SB traffic is being diverted to I64 WB, I64 EB will be closed for approximately 5 hours

TROUBLE IN TRUMBULL: Eris Y. Banegas Gomez, a 28-year old tree removal company worker, died after he fell about 45 feet when the tree he was working on gave way in Trumbull, CT






TRUMBULL, CT — The tree worker killed after falling about 45 feet during a tree removal has been identified as Eris Banegas-Gomes.

Gomes, 28, died on Saturday at Bridgeport Hospital, police said in a statement. His family was notified on the day of the incident and was at the hospital, Lt. Keith Golding of Trumbull Police said on Monday.

Gomes, of Bridgeport, was removing a tree from a property on Pinewood Trail on Saturday morning, police said in a statement. He was wearing a safety harness and climbed up about 45 feet and was removing the top potion of the tree when it broke at its base, falling to the ground.

Trumbull police and EMS responded to the incident and treated Gomes at the scene, and he was transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where he later died.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is helping police with the investigation, according to the statement.




Eris Y. Banegas Gomez, age 28, of Bridgeport passed away suddenly after an unfortunate incident while at work. Eris was born in Honduras but had relocated some time ago to the United States to be with his father. Eris is the son of Javier Banegas of Bridgeport and his wife Milagrosa Seguinot Banegas both of Stratford and Ruth Aracelis Gomez currently of Honduras; Eris is also survived by his brother Jose Javier, Eduard David and Kevin Antonio Banegas Gomez and Paul Torres; his sister Sandra Drodz; and a host of other relatives and friends whom will dearly miss him. Friends are invited to attend calling hours on Sunday, April 22, 2018 from 4-7 P.M.; Funeral Services have been scheduled of Monday, April 23, 2018 beginning at 10:00 A.M. at he funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in ST. Peter's Roman Catholic Church; Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Bridgeport, CT; Please sign our online Memorial Register Book where you may share your thoughts, memories, prayers, pictures and so much more but is found EXCLUSIVELY at www.luzdepaz.com;

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Tree-worker dies from injuries in Pinewood Trail fall

By Donald Eng on April 14, 2018 


A worker from a local tree removal company died Saturday morning at approximately 9 a.m. after falling from a tree that he was removing from the property of a Pinewood Trail home.

The worker, a 28-year-old old male from Bridgeport, was wearing a safety harness as he climbed the tree to a height of approximately 45 feet. He then began removing the top portion of the tree, when the tree broke off at its base. The tree, with the worker still attached, fell directly to the ground.

Other members of the work crew immediately called 911 and attempted to assist him. Trumbull police and EMS arrived shortly after and treated the victim at the scene. He was transported to Bridgeport Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Officials with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration responded to the scene and assisted Trumbull Police with the investigation.

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.



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Police: Tree worker dies in Trumbull

By Tara O'Neill
Updated 9:29 pm, Saturday, April 14, 2018


TRUMBULL, CT — A local tree removal company worker died Saturday morning after he fell about 45 feet when the tree he was working on gave way, officials said.

The identity of the 28-year-old man from Bridgeport had not been released Saturday afternoon, pending notification of next of kin. Police did not provide the name of the tree removal company the man worked for.

The man died around 9 a.m., police said after he fell from a tree on the property of a Pinewood Trail home, Trumbull Police Lt. Keith Golding said.

“He was wearing a safety harness as he climbed the tree to a height of approximately 45 feet,” Golding said. “He then began removing the top portion of the tree when the tree broke off at its base. The tree, with the worker still attached, fell directly to the ground.”

Other members of the tree removal work crew called 911 and tried to help the fallen man, Golding said. Soon after, Trumbull police and emergency medical services arrived and treated the victim. He was transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where he later died from his injuries, Golding said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent an official to the residence. Golding said the OSHA representatives helped police with the investigation.