The July fire in a Public Works Department
storage facility on South Boulevard may have destroyed a number
of specialty vehicles parked inside for the weekend, but it
didn't severely impact the Village's ability to
deliver services. Most importantly, no injuries were reported,
either to the firefighters who fought the four-alarm blaze or
residents who live nearby. However, two apartments in a 38-unit
building just to the west of the Public Works facility were
damaged by heat and smoke from the fire, and all building
residents were displaced nearly a week while utility services
were restored and their homes inspected to ensure their safety.
In addition to a variety of vehicles parked inside on nights
and weekends, the one-story, 25,000-square-foot building also
housed the municipal vehicle body repair shop and streetlight
operations, as well as a range of small equipment, hand tools
and vehicle tires. The four-alarm fire drew support from
Bellwood, Berwyn, Cicero, Forest Park, Maywood, North
Riverside, River Forest and Stickney. The blaze was brought
under control within about an hour and extinguished within
another 45 minutes. The Fire and Police departments were
praised by officials and residents for doing an outstanding job
evacuating nearby residents and bringing the fire under
control. Oak Park had taken over the facility in about 1976.
The approximately 60-year-old building had previously housed an
automobile dealership. The Village does have insurance on the facility
and its contents, so the financial impact is not expected to be
severe. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department has begun
efforts to replace the lost equipment. Cause of the fire is
still under investigation, but is not believed to be of a
suspicious nature. For more information, call 358.5770 or email
village@oak-park.us.
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The first in what is hoped will be an
annual bike ride through the Ridgeland Historic District is
scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Sun., Oct. 3, beginning at Pleasant Home,
217 Home Ave. The event, co-sponsored by the Energy and
Environmental Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Oak
Park Department of Public Health and the Oak Park Cycle Club,
is especially designed for families. Streets will be closed to
vehicles so that young children can enjoy traffic-free streets,
while parents can appreciate the historic architecture. Prior
to the ride, participants can register their bicycles with the
Village, while children learn about simple bicycle mechanics
and safety. Walkers are invited to participate, too. For more
information, call 358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.
