From excerpts on dailyherald.com:
Fire Chief Drew Smith of Prospect Heights reminisced about the recent apartment fire on Monday night in Mount Prospect, which left around 100 residents homeless. This incident bore an uncanny resemblance to a 2018 blaze at the River Trails Condominiums in Prospect Heights. That particular fire obliterated 24 units and severely damaged another 72, rendering many families without homes.
A common thread connecting these fires, along with several other major apartment blazes in suburban areas since 2018, has been the presence of mansard-style roofs. These architectural features were favored by builders during the 1960s and '70s due to their ability to provide extra living space on the top floors. However, they pose significant challenges for firefighting efforts, as they often shield flames from direct water contact as the fire progresses.
"Regrettably, the truth is that unless the fire breaches the roof, the water cannot reach it effectively," Smith explained. "By the time that happens, it's usually far too late."
Comparable fires struck the Windhaven condominiums in Palatine in 2023, rendering 22 units unlivable. Similarly, the Puente Del Pueblo apartments in West Chicago last year left roughly 100 residents displaced, while the Bristol Court condominium complex in Park Ridge in 2022 saw five residents injured and an entire 36-unit building rendered uninhabitable.
The fire at the Orion Parkview Apartments in Mount Prospect last week originated in the building's cockloft, a 36-unit structure. Intense heat levels prevented firefighters from engaging the blaze from within, compelling them to adopt a defensive approach from the exterior.
Unlike the common areas below, the attic lacked sprinklers, and the mansard roof obstructed water from reaching the spreading flames. Named after 17th-century French architect François Mansart, this type of roof became fashionable in French home designs. It is distinguished by its sloping design, covered with various roofing materials and punctuated by recessed windows. Although this style lost popularity among American builders post-1970s, numerous buildings with such roofs still stand in suburban areas.
Smith authored a report on a 2006 fire at River Trails, the same complex impacted in 2018, for Fire Engineering. His report highlights how fire and smoke can spread within the roof structure.
"During the overhaul and investigation, you could peer into the mansard from the third-floor corner apartment and observe it running the full length of the building without any fire stops," he noted.
The most effective solution remains the installation of sprinklers, though retrofitting existing structures with them proves both challenging and expensive.
In conclusion, while the architectural beauty of mansard roofs may be appreciated, their inherent fire risks necessitate urgent attention and potential modifications to ensure safer living conditions.
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