Residents scatter after Mt. Prospect condo fire

Firefighters are blaming an unattended candle for a Thursday afternoon blaze that routed residents, many of whom are seniors, from their condominium building in Mount Prospect.

Residents of the Kenilworth House Condominiums were being allowed back into their homes temporarily Thursday to pick up a few belongings and insurance papers, since fire officials deemed the building unsafe to be occupied — at least until today.

Two residents of the building in the 1200 block of West Prospect Avenue were treated for smoke inhalation, but Mount Prospect police officer Greg Sill said everyone else got out of the building safely.

One of those injured was the woman with the candle, who joined other residents in banging on doors to get everybody out, her neighbors said, until firefighters took her to the hospital.

Many displaced residents went off to stay with relatives or friends, Sill said, but others were congregating inside the community center at Mount Prospect Village Hall, where the Red Cross provided assistance.

Nina Persino, a Mount Prospect social worker, said they don't know yet how many people have been displaced, since they don't know where everyone is.

“It's very traumatic for the tenants, but the good thing is because everybody is in a condominium they have insurance,” Persino added.

Margaret Riedel, who lives on the third floor where the fire started, was among those initially taking shelter at the community center. She said she and an 88-year-old neighbor were on her balcony when the fire alarm went off. Firefighters brought a ladder to the balcony, but the women decided not to risk it.

Instead, they waited until the smoke cleared and were escorted down the stairs by police officers and firefighters, who brought jackets and blankets to them in the meantime.

Ron Kanke, also at the community center, said he is living with a friend at the condo since having a heart attack recently.

“I'm a diabetic and all my insulin was in the refrigerator,” he added. “The fire department was nice enough to go back into the apartment and get it for me.”

At the condo, Fire Chief John Malcolm was among those escorting residents up to their homes to collect some personal effects. He said no one would move back in Thursday night, but that units on the first and second floor will be habitable soon, possibly Friday.

“As soon as they can get the sprinkler and fire alarm systems up, they will be letting people back in,” he said.

Kaila Mallicoat, 14, was getting off the bus from Lincoln Middle School Thursday afternoon when her mom called with the news.

“I got off the bus crying,” she said. “There were all these cop cars and everyone was freaking out.” Afraid for her personal belongings, Kaila was particularly anxious about her memory box. “I can't take it with me, it's too (big),” she said.

Kaila's mother, Denise, was in the shower when she heard the alarm. She saw the smoke, threw on clothes, grabbed her handbag and shoes and ran out, banging on doors.

Later, she was relieved.

“I'm just grateful everybody's OK, nobody died,” she said.

Malcolm said the fire did an estimated $300,000 damage to the building. They got the call at 2:38 p.m. and it took 15 minutes for the 30 firefighters to get the blaze under control, he said. Mount Prospect was assisted by Arlington Heights, Des Plaines and Elk Grove Township fire departments.

The third floor has considerable fire and smoke damage, Malcolm said, while the first- and second-floor units have a lot of water damage.

He said the building has sprinklers in common areas, but the individual units do not have them.