Archive for November 13th, 2011

Chicago house explosion and 2-11 update

Tim Olk submitted several images from the scene of this morning’s 2-11 and Haz Mat Level I for the house explosion and structure fires in the 6600 block of South Keating.

Chicago Fire Department house explosion and fire 6600 block of Keating 11-13-11

Firefighters sift through the rubble of what once was a Chicago style bungalow in the 6600 block os Keating this afternoon. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department house explosion and fire 6600 block of Keating 11-13-11

Firefighters hit hot spots from the window of a neighboring home which caught fire as a result of the explosion next door. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department house explosion and fire 6600 block of Keating 11-13-11

Firefighters using saws cut through the roof of a house which is only a few feet off the ground as the result of an explosion this morning which left several occupants injured. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department house explosion and fire 6600 block of Keating 11-13-11

The remnants of a destroyed home in the foreground and the destruction to a neighboring house next door are visible as firefighters await an assignment. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department house explosion and fire 6600 block of Keating 11-13-11

Firefighters perform overhaul on the second floor at one of several homes that were damaged this morning in the 6600 block of Keating. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department house explosion and fire 6600 block of Keating 11-13-11

An officer supervises the nozzle man as they work from the second floor of a house that was badly damaged by an early morning fire. Tim Olk photo

Tim has additional images in a gallery HERE.

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Chicago house explosion and 2-11

The Chicago Fire Alarm Office received calls this morning reporting an explosion at a house in the 6600 block of South Keating. Companies arrived to find a bungalow that was leveled and fire in the adjacent buildings on either side. The alarm was escalated to a  2-11 and a Haz Mat Level I. Apparently there were two occupants in the house at the time of the explosion, both of whom were out of the rubble when firefighters arrived.

Tim Olk and Steve Redick were both at the scene and will have photos to share later in the day. In the meantime, the Chicago Tribune has an article HERE. They report that:

A man and a woman were taken to a hospital in critical condition after an apparent gas explosion leveled a Southwest Side house Sunday morning.

The 1½-story bungalow in the 6600 block of South Keating Avenue in the West Lawn neighborhood exploded about 6:30 a.m., according to police and fire authorities.

A woman in her 50s and a man in his 40s were inside the home at the time and suffered second-degree burns. They were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.

Though it is believed everyone inside the house is accounted for, firefighters are getting ready to enter the rubble to do a complete search. The roof of the exploded home was about 2½-feet off the ground. “A portion of it is still intact,” Langford said.

The homes next door were badly damaged by fire. An 80-year-old woman was inside one of them but she was not hurt, Langford said.

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Chicago Fire Boat History

While on a visit to the Door County Maritime Museum, Drew Smith found a photo hanging on the wall depicting the Victor Schlaeger and the Joseph Medill side by side in dry dock. Drew took photos of the photo … and submitted them for all to see. While he was there, he met an older gentleman that worked on building both of the boats.

The Chicago Fire Boat Victor Schlaeger in dry dock - Door County Maritime Museum

This photo from the Door County Maritime Museum shows the Chicago Fire Boat Victor Schlaeger in dry dock. In the background is the Joseph Medill. Image from the Door County Maritime Museum.

The Chicago Fire Boats Victor Schlaeger and Joseph Medill in dry dock - Door County Maritime Museum

This photo from the Door County Maritime Museum shows both the Chicago Fire Boats Victor Schlaeger and Joseph Medill in dry dock. Image from the Door County Maritime Museum.

 

The Chicago Fire Boats Victor Schlaeger and Joseph Medill  - Door County Maritime Museum

The placard describes the origin of the photo. From the Door County Maritime Museum

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