Photos by Richard Blaser
Story by Capt. Joe Kaminskas

On the evening of April 20th, 2002 around 18:00 hrs, The Rockdale Fire Protection District, Rockdale, IL. responded for a possible structure fire at 303 Mound Rd.

This author was on his way home with his family from supporting the Channahon Fire Department's fundraiser for a firefighter that was killed in the line of duty when the pager went off.

Upon hearing the message of the "possible structure fire", we could see the tremendous black smoke header from approximately 3 miles away. After the dispatcher at WESCOM finished his message, I immediately requested a box alarm on Tanker Box # 2000-17 to the given location.

Automatic aid was provided by East Joliet Fire Dept. Responding mutual aid on the box alarm were the following departments: Channahon, Troy, Minooka, Lockport and Manhattan. Plainfield Fire and Ambulance departments changed quarters to Rockdale.

Upon arrival of the first companies, they had heavy fire showing from the east end of the building. First priority was to establish a water curtain to protect the exposure building. Since there is no working hydrant system near where the fire occurred, a tanker shuttle was established by the first in engine company.

The second in Rockdale engine company, along with the East Joliet engine company, laid a total of 1900 feet of 5" supply line from the nearest village hydrant to supply the Lockport aerial ladder.

Water was shuttled from the Caterpillar Tractor manufacturing plant 2 miles away. On average, the tankers each made 8 loads of water. The fire was declared under control 4 hours later.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.