Transformer explodes, garages and cars destroyed

Ralph Ferone stood looking at woodworking tools and other items normally found in a garage that was now nothing more than a macabre sculpture of twisted, scorched metal.

Two garages, including Ferone’s, and three vehicles were destroyed in a fire caused when power lines fell across the buildings located behind homes on Edgewood and Malden avenues Tuesday night.

Firefighters found both garages at 131 N. Edgewood and 132 S. Malden avenues consumed by flames when they arrived moments after a call came in at 8:27 p.m., Fire Chief David Fleege said.

“When we got there the garages were totally involved in fire and the wires were still energized,” Fleege said. “The initial emphasis on the fire attack was to protect the homes. We couldn’t do anything with the power lines still being energized. What we wanted to do was direct our attention to the exposures because that could have been a real disaster.”

According to Ferone, a neighbor had contacted ComEd earlier in the day to report something was not right with the wires.

“These wires have always been a problem,” Ferone said. “This is not the first time they’ve been down. The last time was 15 or 20 years ago. You can hear snapping and crackling all the time — it’s unnatural stuff that you hear.”

“I had a nice garage,” he added. “I hope I could still put up the same garage. It was two-story, three car. It was more like a barn. I had a lot of stuff in there. It’s all gone.”

No damage was reported to the home at 131 N. Edgewood Ave., while only slight damage was reported on the fascia and eaves of the home at 151 S. Malden Ave.

Residents at both homes were home at the time. No injuries were reported, Fleege said.

Ferone said he had been home about 10 minutes when he heard a smoke alarm chirp twice in his laundry room. He investigated, found nothing wrong, and went back to work at his computer.

“A few minutes later someone entered my house, I thought my wife had come home,” he said. “I heard a strange voice say ‘Ralph, get out of the house, your garage is on fire, your neighbor’s house is on fire.’”

It was the voice of another neighbor.

Ferone came out and found the southwest corner of the garage burning from the arcing wires resting on the roof.

“I searched my mind for something to do. But what can you do? You’re helpless,” he said.

Three vehicles were destroyed in the blaze. A trash bin full of construction debris in the driveway in front of the garage at 131 N. Edgewood Ave. caught fire as well, Fleege said.

Fleege said a transformer exploded after the major transmission lines came down.

“The heat, the temperature, the load on the wires because of the heat we have been experiencing, all factors into the wire issues,” Fleege said.

Power was out in parts of La Grange and Western Springs as a result of the blaze. ComEd spokesman Pam Anton said power had been restored to 1,200 customers. As of Thursday, 18 customers were still without power.

Anton said she was unaware of any report earlier on the day of the fire that a problem existed with the wires. ComEd is investigating why the wires fell, she said.

Damage was estimated at $100,000, Fleege said.