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📸 Credit: CBS Chicago
In the recently released third episode the City of St. Charles’ City Insider podcast, hosts Lisa Garhan and Kara Silva sat down with Battalion Chiefs Tony Centimano and Dave Chmelar and Lieutenant Joe Davila to revisit the 2022 Pheasant Run Resort fire — a massive blaze that undoubtedly remains in the minds of many locals.
Their firsthand recollections illustrated the scale, emotion, and endurance behind the three-day battle that destroyed a St. Charles landmark. Here’s a recap.
The fire erupts
When the first call came in on a clear May afternoon in 2022, St. Charles firefighters already knew what they might be facing. The old Pheasant Run Resort — vacant, vandalized, and long rumored to be a “ticking time bomb” — had loomed in the back of people’s minds for years.
By the time the first trucks crested the valley near 7th Avenue, smoke was already rising into the air above St. Charles.
“When I saw the column of smoke, I knew it was going to be a bad day.”
What unfolded became the largest fire in St. Charles history: a three-day, multi-agency battle that took more than 100 firefighters, 7 million gallons of water, and sheer endurance to finally bring under control.
It was more than a blaze. For many, it marked the end of an era and the loss of a place woven into the city’s collective memory.
“We had about two seconds to make a decision — do we try to save this end of the building or that one? You have to make a million decisions in a minute.”
Fighting the blaze
Even as crews scrambled to secure water lines and establish perimeter control, they had to navigate chain-link fences, overgrown brush, and a structure too unstable to enter.
With each passing hour, the fire grew, drawing onlookers from across the region. The next morning, footage and photos were already circulating nationwide.
“That's when the significance of the fire hit me. This is nationwide news. Holy cow, we're part of this. Let it sink in for a minute or two and then go back to work because we still got a job to do.”
By Sunday night, the fire was largely under control, but the investigation was just beginning. Detectives from local, state, and federal agencies combed through debris, drone footage, and hours of video from nearby stores.
The break came from Walmart’s security cameras, which captured the suspects entering the property. Social media clips the teens posted themselves helped seal the case — evidence of an arson that destroyed the landmark.
The danger had long been present at the abandoned structure. Pheasant Run’s sprinkler and alarm systems had been shut down for some time.
“Dozens of firefighters were lying in the parking lot using their coats as pillows—just trying to rest before going back in.”
As the city looked back, many saw the fire as both tragedy and transformation. The situation highlighted the skill, teamwork, and quiet courage of local first responders.
Centimano recalled walking the grounds after dawn, watching smoke curl from what was once the indoor-outdoor pool. “We knew this could happen someday,” he said. “It was just a matter of when, not if.”
“It was a once-in-a-generation event.”
From family reunions to comedy shows, expos, and conferences, Pheasant Run had been a go-to spot for unique events and experiences for many locals over the decades. Its loss left a hole on the city’s east side, but for the firefighters, it also led to a sense of gratitude.
“The biggest shout-out is to the community. They send cookies, they wave as we drive by. They’ve always had our back.”
Listen: Hear the full conversation with St. Charles Fire Department officials and Ward 2 alderpersons in City Insider Episode 3.
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