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September 2017 e-edition

A Flossmoor house was destroyed on New Year’s Day as firefighters from several communities battled flames and below-zero temperatures.

The house, in the 1800 block of Oak Lane Road, was already in flames when firefighters arrived shortly after 10 a.m. on Jan. 1.

“The building was fully involved prior to our arrival as no one was home,” said Flossmoor Fire Chief Chris Sewell. “So the fire went undiscovered until it was through the roof.”

Sewell called the house “a total loss.”

Firefighters were on the scene until about 4 p.m. With the brutal cold, fire crews were rotated throughout the day, Sewell said.

Crews were unable to get to an area on the house’s second floor and let a portion of the roof continue to burn.

“We’re still out there even now trying to deal with hotspots,” Sewell said Tuesday morning. “The structure is unsafe to put people inside of and that complicates everything.”

One firefighter was taken to the hospital with a minor toe injury. He was treated and released, Sewell said.

Two adults and two children were displaced by the fire and a dog was killed, Sewell said.

Fire departments from nearby communities also responded to the blaze, including units from Homewood, Hazel Crest, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Tinley Park, Matteson, Frankfort, Crete, East Hazel Crest, Lansing, South Holland, Park Forest and Markham.

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