Fire Damages Mobile Home in Blackhawk Estates

Blaze quickly extinguished, one resident transported to hospital

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:43pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of grey and blue, depicting a mobile home community partially obscured by thick, swirling smoke, with the faint outlines of firefighters' silhouettes visible in the distance, conveying the scale and intensity of the natural disaster.A mobile home community in Elk Grove Township faces the overwhelming power of a sudden fire, as firefighters battle to contain the blaze and protect nearby residences.Des Plaines Today

A fire broke out in a mobile home in the Blackhawk Estates community in unincorporated Elk Grove Township on Wednesday, April 1. The Mount Prospect Fire Department responded and was able to quickly extinguish the blaze, preventing it from spreading to neighboring homes. One resident was transported to a local hospital as a precaution, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Why it matters

Fires in mobile home communities can be particularly challenging due to the close proximity of the homes and limited water supply. The quick response and containment of this fire highlights the importance of effective emergency services in these types of neighborhoods.

The details

Firefighters from the Mount Prospect Fire Department arrived on the scene within six minutes of the initial call and found flames coming from a mobile home on the 400 block of W. Touhy Avenue. Crews were able to extinguish the fire in approximately seven minutes and prevent it from spreading to nearby homes. One resident who was home at the time was able to evacuate safely and was transported to a local hospital as a precaution, though they did not sustain life-threatening injuries. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental and possibly electrical in nature, and the home was deemed uninhabitable due to significant damage.

  • The fire was reported around 10:05 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1.
  • Firefighters arrived on the scene within six minutes of the initial call.
  • The fire was brought under control in approximately seven minutes.

The players

Mount Prospect Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to and extinguished the fire.

Des Plaines Fire Department

The neighboring fire department that assisted the Mount Prospect Fire Department at the scene.

Tom Wang

The Fire Chief of the Mount Prospect Fire Department.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'Fires in manufactured home communities can be challenging due to limited water supply and how close the homes are to one another. Engine 11 was able to get water on the fire quickly and keep it from spreading to nearby homes.'”

— Tom Wang, Fire Chief, Mount Prospect Fire Department

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of effective emergency response and coordination in mobile home communities, where fires can quickly spread due to the close proximity of the homes and limited water supply. The quick actions of the Mount Prospect Fire Department prevented further damage and potential loss of life.