Fire Erupts In Ceiling At Life Time In Orland Park

ORLAND PARK, IL — A fire broke out within the ceiling of Life Time in Orland Park, located at 16333 S. Lagrange Road on Friday evening, according to Orland Fire Protection District. The fire was caused by lint build up from the facility's dryers, that had spread to the ceiling space above the locker rooms.

Officials were called to the facility around 7:18 p.m. Friday. When they got there, the gym was being evacuated, and upon investigating, fire crews found smoke in the rear of the building, near the men and women's locker room.

While looking for the source of the smoke, crews ripped the drop ceiling off in the locker rooms, where they found an active fire burning.

The Fire District said the flames had been burning in the void space between the drop ceiling and the second floor, which is above the sprinkles and smoke detectors. The district said an air handling smoke detector activated, alerting the department there was smoke in the building.

Due to the size of the building, and amount of smoke that needed to be removed, the alarm was upgraded to a box alarm, and the fire crew received help from Mokena, Palos, Lockport, Frankfort, Country Club Hills and New Lenox Fire Departments.

Fire officials said the building was evacuated, and nobody is hurt. Officials were airing smoke out of the building when Patch arrived around 8:30 p.m. Friday. Due to the fire, Life Time Orland Park will remain closed until repairs can be made. A Life Time official told Patch club members will receive an email with information about the reopening.