Lighting Strikes, Chars Darien Home on Thursday Morning

The strike caused $25,000 of “heavy damage” to a home on the 1600 block of Fox Hill Place.

A lightning bolt unleashed in Thursday morning’s storm struck a Darien home shortly before 2:50 a.m., causing “heavy damage” to the roof and chimney and charring several walls, according to a Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District press release.  The strike also tripped circuit breakers and caused a gas leak in the front yard of the house on the 1600 block of Fox Hill Place in Darien. Though smoke was reported, thermal imaging found no fire in the walls. No one was injured in the strike, or during any other Darien-Woodridge storm-related incidents on Thursday morning. (The Department responded to over a dozen storm-related incidents by mid-morning.) The initial damage estimates are $25,000 for the lightning strike. The Westmont, Tri-…

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One Person Dead in Early Morning Accident on I-55

A three-car pileup on I-55 near Lemont Road led to a car fire, causing one death early Saturday morning.

A motorist died early Saturday after a three-car accident on Interstate 55 at Lemont Road led to a vehicle fire, according to a fire official. The accident occurred at about 3:50 a.m. on southbound I-55, said Bob Morris, Fire Prevention Bureau Director for the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District. Three cars were involved in the accident, which led to a fire that caused one of the fatalities, Morris said. Firefighters on scene had to extricate the person from the vehicle. Two others involved in the accident were seriously injured and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. Information on the types of vehicles involved in the accident or names of the motorists was not available Saturday morning. The DuPage County Coroner …

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UPDATED: Bicycling Teen Trapped Under Car, Seriously Injured in Darien

Darien-Woodridge fire paramedics performed advanced life-support on the boy while taking him to the hospital, according to a release.

Updated:  5:39 p.m. Monday A teenage boy from unincorporated Downers Grove sustained serious injuries when he became trapped under a car while riding his bicycle near Beller and Lemont roads in Darien around 4:56 p.m. Sunday, Darien-Woodridge Fire District officials said. Fire personnel had to extract the boy by lifting the car off his lower body with two high-pressure air bags placed under the front passenger side, according to a Darien-Woodridge release.  Paramedics performed advanced life-support on the unconscious teenager while taking him to the Level 1 Trauma Center at Advocate Good-Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, the release said. Darien police said the boy, who is 14 or 15 years old according to various reports, was later …

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Darien-Woodridge Fire Personnel Save Collapsed Firefighter Candidate

The candidate collapsed and stopped breathing during a physical ability test Feb. 9 in Indian Head Park.

The following was submitted by Bob Morris of the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District: On February 9, 2012, Lt. John Tabisz and Firefighter/Paramedic Jenifer Phillips, of the Darien Woodridge Fire District, along with three members of the Pleasantview Fire District, saved the life of a 46 year old man.  This individual was participating in a firefighters’ candidate physical ability test held at the Chicago Roofers Apprentice Training Center, in Indian Head Park. This ability test is required by most fire departments prior to being hired as a firefighter. During one of the events this individual bent over and said he did not feel well. He then collapsed to the floor. This was witnessed by firefighters who were proctoring the event. The…

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PHOTOS: Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District Open House

The Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District opened its doors Saturday and welcomed the community to learn about fire safety.

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Wear Red, White and Blue for DarienFest

The 24th annual DarienFest will be held Sept. 9 through Sept. 11, at Darien Community Park.

For those attending this year’s DarienFest and wondering what to wear, event organizers have a few suggestions. In observance of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, it will also be American Pride Weekend in Darien during the festival. “We’re encouraging everybody to wear red, white and blue,” said Clare Bongiovanni, the Darien Chamber of Commerce president and chief operating officer. The 24th annual DarienFest will be held from Sept. 9 through Sept. 11, at Darien Community Park, 71st Street and Clarendon Hills Road. The event will feature food, beverages, carnival rides and musical entertainment. The Darien-Woodridge Fire District plans to host a remembrance ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Sept. 11 and unveil the piece of a 3-foot section…

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Darien-Woodridge Fire Chief Messenger Announces Retirement

Messenger's last day in the district will be Friday.

The Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District announced Tuesday that Chief Wayne Messenger is retiring Friday after nearly 34 years of service in the district. The district promoted Deputy Chief Dave Lambright, a 23-year veteran of Darien-Woodridge, to chief. Lambright will assume the role Saturday. Messenger said in a statement he is leaving with “mixed-emotions.” He started with the district as a paid-on-call member and worked his way up to chief, a position he has held for the past three and a half years, according to the district statement.  In an e-mail to his staff, Messenger encouraged them to “not forget the past, but do not live in the past. Work for the present and move toward the future.” Messenger told his staff about his …

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