Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

6 Injured in Des Plaines Fire, Reported Explosion at Apartment Building

At least five people were hospitalized as firefighters rescued residents from balconies and searched the building while the cause remained under investigation.

  • Early Wednesday, a three-story apartment building at 1279 Harding Ave. in Des Plaines caught fire following reports of an explosion, forcing an emergency response around 1 a.m.
  • The City of Des Plaines reported that two residents smelled gas on Tuesday afternoon; the cause of the fire and explosion remains under investigation.
  • Firefighters rescued multiple residents from balconies using ground ladders. Des Plaines Fire Department Chief Matt Matzl said, "We're able to make rescues with ground ladders from balconies."
  • Six people were transported to local hospitals with injuries of varying severity, while officials confirmed the three-story apartment building is now completely destroyed and uninhabitable.
  • Several NICOR crews remained on-site assessing structural damage as emergency teams continued searching the building and extinguishing hot spots into Wednesday morning.
Insights by Ground AI

12 Articles

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 87% of the sources are Center
87% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

NBC Chicago broke the news in Chicago, United States on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal