Find Out How to Help the Frankfort Square Fire Victims
No one was injured from the Brickstone Drive fire that gutted a house and damaged another. Neighbors and others are aiding those homeowners. Learn how you can pitch in. Plus, read how a Frankfort Square man stopped another fire from spreading Saturday.
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One house was destroyed and a neighboring residence suffered extensive damage from a fire that started late Wednesday night in the 8300 block of Brickstone Drive in Frankfort Square. The residents escaped their burning homes, and there were no injuries.
As of Thursday afternoon, the cause of the fire had not been determined, said Assistant Chief Larry Rauch of the Frankfort Fire Protection District. Investigators were looking at a couple different ways the blaze could have started, he said, adding that fire's origins weren't suspicious.
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Firefighters from Frankfort and five area departments—including Mokena, New Lenox, Tinley Park, Manhattan and Matteson—responded to 911 calls about the fire at around 11:48 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, Rauch said. By the time firefighters arrived, flames had engulfed the two-story house where the fire started, he said. Strong winds pushed the flames back into the house, and the radiant heat melted the siding of the neighboring house to the west, setting it on fire, Rauch added. The fire also caused a gas leak on the block that Nicor Gas workers had to repair, Rauch said.
It took firefighters about a half hour to get the blaze under control and 45 minutes to an hour to extinguish it, Rauch said. Crews began to leave the scene around 3:45 a.m. Thursday, May 24. The Nicor workers were completing their repairs to the gas main at about the same time, Rauch said.
Rauch estimated damaged to the gutted house to be around $340,000 to $350,000, which includes the loss of the contents in the home. The neighboring residence sustained fire and water damage estimated at $50,000 to $60,000, Rauch said.
Helping the Victims of the Fire
Neighbor Kimberly DeLude Quigley will be collecting clothing for John and Arley Francke, the couple who lived in the destroyed house. Clothing donations can be dropped off at 8304 Brickstone Dr. Any items that don't fit will be donated to other organizations. E-mail Quigley at tkquigley@comcast.net for more information or if you need someone to pick up your donations.
Deer Creek Christian Church in University Park has a free clothes ministry for those in need called The Closet. Karin Camilleri, the church's worship and program director who also oversees The Closet, said she can mobilize her team to help anyone affected by the fire.
Anyone with information about specific needs of the people involved, as well as information such as clothing sizes, should call Camilleri at (708) 872-5226.
Another Example of a Neighbor Helping Over a Fire
A Frankfort Square man used the water from his swimming pool to put out a fire that started on a neighbor's deck, stopping the flames from reaching the house and causing damage, Sun-Times Media reported.
Keith Donabauer extinguished the fire by filling 5-gallon buckets with pool water and carrying them to the backyard of Avis Smith-Rud’s house in the 20200 block of Rosewood Court, the report stated.
A Frankfort Fire Protection District official told Sun-Times Media that Donabauer's quick thinking stopped the fire from destroying more than just Smith-Rud's deck, the report continued.
Read the whole Sun-Times Media story for more details.
LENDING A HAND TO THOSE IN NEED: Do you have information about any efforts to help the families affected by the fire? Are you organizing a donation drive to gather clothes and other items? Share what you know or what you're doing to help out with Frankfort Patch readers who also want to pitch in. Here's how:
- Post the info in the comments section of this story.
- Post it on the Frankfort Patch Facebook page.
- Send an e-mail with the info to Frankfort Patch editor Joe Vince at joev@patch.com.
Michelle Smith
8:40 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Unfortunately it took the fire department over 13 minutes to reach the fire after numerous calls from the neighbors. I believe the next door neighbors house could have been saved if they got their sooner.
Frankfort square
9:11 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
It did not take 13 minutes, and the neighbors house was saved.
Chester Rook
12:44 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Very sad to see this happen.
citizen
1:54 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
It took 5 minutes from time call was received til first fire engine was on the scene.
K.B.C.
4:52 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
We have a great Fire Dept. in Frankfort Square.
Maggie
7:39 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I can't believe people would blame the fire department...that's ridiculous! These guys put their lives on the line...unfortunately it happened, I hear it may have been a bonfire/firepit not put out entirely. Whether that is the cause or not is not important, community support is, so thank god that we have as good if a fire department as we do....no lives were lost, that's most important!
Pat
7:58 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I agree.... it is ridiculous to blame the fire department. We have a fabulous/ professional department who are always striving/training to be prepared for any emergency. Being a fireman is one of the most dangerous jobs there is and they deserve our support. It is so sad that 2 Frankfort Square families have suffered this tremendous loss. How can we help?
Jay
9:35 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
This is in response to Michelle Smith's comment. 13 mins!!! Please check your watch. The firefighters that responded to this incident were professional, courageous and most of all rapid in their response time. Also please notice that the neighbors house is indeed saved. Is the house not standing and all contents of the house salvageable? Those firefighters saved the neighbors home from being a total loss. I believe I made my point. God bless our fire and police personnel for what they do. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this fire.
Kelly Rice
8:51 am on Saturday, May 26, 2012
Jay...We are thankful for the fire departments response in their efforts. But I feel I must correct you in the fact that there is quite a bit of damage to the interior of our house. As you said...these things can be replaced. The precious lives of our young children and the wonderful people next door cannot. We are forever thankful for the fact that we are all able to hug and love one another. I think that is what we should all be focusing on. The loving response from people we know and people we have never met has been amazing. We live within an amazing community. Thanks everyone for your support .
Joyce
10:04 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
I can't beleive everyone is debating over how long it took the Fire Dept to respond.
Should'nt the focus be on the substantial loss of the the home owners? We should be discussing how we can help these poor people....not how long it took the Fire Dept!
Mousepants
6:10 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
Say it again...
John
11:08 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
This was my parent house, it took the fire department LESS than 5 minutes between receiving the alarm and arriving at their house. The fire was caused by an ember from someones fire down the street that ignited the peat moss behind the back corner of the house. At one point, from what one of the neighbors told me on facebook because I'm deployed to the Middle East killing bad guys right now, mom yelled at one of the fire fighters, "it's gone", pointed at the neighbors house which also caught fire, "save THAT one". They feel so bad for what happened to Bob and Kellys house also, but it was no ones fault, just a series of bad things that just happened that none of them had any control over.
Joe Vince
11:30 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
@John:
Thanks for the update. If there's anything residents can do to help your parents—or Bob and Kelly Rice—don't hesitate to post the information here. Or you can contact me privately at joev@patch.com, and I'll spread the word. It's terrible what happened, but I'm glad your parents weren't hurt.
Stay safe where you are.
Joe Vince
Local Editor, Frankfort
Lenore DeLude
5:55 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012
Hi John, My daughter Kim lives across the street from your mom and dad. I know your parents and have talked to them numerous times. My heart is breaking for them. I only wish this nightmare never happened to them or Kelly and Bob next door to them. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them, and weare so thankful that they are all okay. You must be in shock, and it has to be so hard on you that you can't be there for your parents, but you are where you are for all of us and for that we thank you and are proud of you! From what Kim tells me, your parents neighbors are pulling together for them and the Rice's, it sure sounds like a wonderful bunch of people. My husband and I are keeping them all in our prayers and hope the long road ahead for them will somehow be easy.
Kelly Rice
11:13 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
Hey John! It's Kelly. My only thoughts as we ran out of our house and saw Arley and Johnny's was for their safety. We are so thankful that they and Geo got out. I hug them both hard when we stand together in front of our houses. Robert and I know that it could have been so much worse. Arley and Johnny continue to express remorse when in fact everyone knows that they are in no way responsible for what happened. Houses can be rebuilt but people can not be replaced. We look forward to living next to our wonderful neighbors again. Everyone in the neighborhood have been so loving and giving. The teachers and staff at Marydrew school put an amazing package together for my boys. My heart goes out to Johnny and Arley as we all heal from the terror and tragedy that occurred that night. Come home safely to us soon John. We miss you.
Joe Vince
10:52 am on Saturday, May 26, 2012
@Kelly Rice:
Thank you for giving everyone an update on how you and your family are doing. It's great to hear that despite the terrible circumstances, people are stepping up to help you and the Franckes out. Feel free to continue posting updates here.
Also, the exchange between you and @John here was incredible. You both set commendable and selfless examples of what it means to be good neighbors. I was utterly speechless when I read yours and John's comments last night (which is why I waited until the morning to respond).
You mentioned that the support you've received shows you live in an amazing community. But I think you've demonstrated—along with the Franckes—that this community is pretty lucky to have you as members of it, too.
Joe Vince
Local Editor, Frankfort
Joe Vince
10:55 am on Saturday, May 26, 2012
@Everyone:
I'm going to keep this short: Thank you for stepping up yet again to help out someone in need. Continue to post information about how you can help out, and if you have any questions or need to get in touch with someone, contact me at joev@patch.com.
Joe Vince
Local Editor, Frankfort
Kelly Rice
12:29 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Thank you Joe for the kind words.
Kelly Rice
Marg
3:56 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Frankfort Square may have its faults, but the majority of folks in this area are good people.who will not hesitate to help their neighbor(s) out in a crisis. As for our firefighters, they are always there for us. As a lifelong resident of the Square, I don't believe for a minute that our firefighters took that long. Years back, I had a medical emergency, and the ambulance was in my driveway within 5 minutes. No complaints from me, only compliments and gratitude for our fire department ....