Jun 28, 2007 6:58 pm US/Central
Lisle Hydrant Not Enough To Put Out Garage Blaze
Newly Installed Hydrant Owned By Company That Was Subject Of 2 Investigators Report
by Mike Puccinelli
LISLE, Ill. (CBS) ―
The 2 Investigators exposed broken fire hydrants in a series of reports last month called ''Out of Order." The investigation prompted a law, and some quick repairs to improve the water pressure on some hydrants.
As CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports, family in Lisle found out what happens when firefighters cannot count on a hydrant.
Christine Oresar is said the alarm in her 2007 Ford Escape awakened and, she believes, possibly saved her family Wednesday night when flames broke out in their garage.
"If it wasn't for that alarm going off…who knows?" she said. "It was an inferno."
Lisle-Woodridge firefighters were only able to control the blaze after using a separate supply of water in addition to what was pumped out of the hydrant that is right in front of the family's house.
"The water pressure was inadequate both in supply and pressure," said Deputy Chief Keith Krestan of the Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District.
Edward Oresar says his neighbor put it best.
"My neighbor actually described it as a garden hose," he said.
That despite the fact that Oresar says the hydrant was installed just weeks ago.
The hydrant belongs to Illinois American Water Company. That's the same company that back in May Dave Savini and the 2 Investigators showed owned hydrants that in some cases were empty, couldn't be opened or had inferior water pressure.
Shawn Collins, an attorney who is suing Illinois American and the city of Lisle, says he fears someone will be killed if something isn't done.
He says two nearby schools are especially at risk. That's why he filed an injunction Thursday.
"I'm going to be asking a federal judge to order relief before these kids go back to school so they're not threatened by this same system that threatens this entire community," he said.
Illinois American Water released a statement when CBS 2 asked about the situation: "We learned of the fire Thursday afternoon and are gathering the facts from the Fire District and our own records. That's all the information we have at this time."
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