St. Charles fire leaders describe the Pheasant Run Resort blaze and investigation

The Pheasant Run Resort fire of May 2022 became the largest structural blaze in St. Charles history, fire department leaders said on the City Insider podcast. The response involved more than 100 firefighters from roughly 20 departments, stretched into a third alarm, and required an estimated 7 million gallons of water and about 15 hours of active firefighting before the site was controlled; full extinguishment took roughly three days.

Battalion Chief Tony Santamano of the St. Charles Fire Department described arriving to a large column of smoke and choosing defensive tactics because of the building’s deteriorated condition and the absence of functioning sprinkler and alarm systems. Crews faced access challenges — fencing, overgrown grounds and people trespassing to film on social media — that complicated operations and evidence preservation.

City fire leaders credited close coordination with neighboring departments and the municipal water utility for sustaining flows during the prolonged operation. They said the city requested mutual‑aid assistance, opened shared valves with West Chicago to supplement supply, and relied on emergency logistics partners to feed and manage crews on long rotations.

Investigators worked with the state fire marshal’s office and the ATF to assemble evidence. Commercial video footage — notably a recording from a Walmart camera — provided a key lead that placed individuals at the property near the time the fire began; investigators later corroborated that footage with other cameras and cell‑phone activity. Because the structure was heavily destroyed, speakers said physical‑origin work was difficult and required cross‑agency coordination, mapping, and careful scene preservation.

Officials said the department recorded one minor firefighter injury and no civilian fatalities. Guests on the podcast emphasized lessons learned: vacant buildings still pose risks when utilities and life‑safety systems are decommissioned, and sustained code enforcement and proactive property maintenance can reduce the potential scale of such fires.

The fire prompted changes in how the department and city coordinate large incidents, they said, including reinforced pre‑planning for vulnerable vacant commercial properties and renewed attention to interagency water supply planning.

The episode’s guests were Battalion Chief Tony Santamano, Dave Schmemeller, and Lieutenant Joe Davilla of the St. Charles Fire Department. The department thanked mutual‑aid partners, the city water department, law enforcement, and state and federal investigators for their roles in response and follow‑up.