Firefighters train at old Arlington Hts. building

It was exactly like a catastrophic emergency - without the actual fire.

About 60 firefighters from various Northwest suburbs participated in a drill Friday at the old Lattof Chevrolet building in Arlington Heights, just in case they ever have to rescue one of their own.

The group pretended a firefighter was trapped in the basement of the old car dealership, filled it with smoke and proceeded to rescue him, said Arlington Heights Fire Department Cmdr. Terry Valentino.

"There are a lot of older body shops and car shops around town where something like this could happen," Valentino said. "We don't get to use a building like this very often."

Besides smoke, firefighters found other obstacles once they got inside the building. The "victim" was a 150-pound dummy.

Each team of about 10 firefighters only had about 25 minutes to search the building before their air packs ran low and another team had to relieve them.

On their way in, each firefighter handed over their name tag to the commander so he would know who was inside.

Each firefighter wears equipment weighing more than 70 pounds, said Arlington Heights Lt. Pete Ahlman.

Valentino said Al Lattof offered the use of his building to the fire department.

Besides a few scattered garbage bins, the building was empty on Friday.

However, village officials are working with a developer to open a grocery store there this fall.

After more than 70 years in business, Lattof Chevrolet closed in October 2008. Instead of passing on his store to the fourth generation, owner Al Lattof decided to accept GM's program to buy out dealerships nationwide to reduce the number of outlets selling Corvettes, Impalas, Malibus and other models.

In January, Arlington Heights officials announced that Roundy's Supermarkets is planning a grocery store on the six acres at 800 E. Northwest Hwy.

Firefighters will hold a similar drill at the site on Friday, April 17, with different firefighters from the same departments.