This from Jim Skrabel:
I just starting scanning old 35mm photos of fires I have been to over the years and came across these.
This is the River North Art Gallery Fire at 361 W. Superior St. from April 15, 1989. This fire was a 5-11 and either one or two specials. I heard Aerial Tower 3 box it, grabbed my camera, and headed for the fire. By the time I got downtown (living in Cicero at the time) the fire was already a 4-11.
Jim Skrabel
Darien-Woodridge F.P.D.
jim Skrabel photo
jim Skrabel photo
jim Skrabel photo
jim Skrabel photo
jim Skrabel photo
#1 by David on December 8, 2015 - 2:13 AM
This really must have been something, I always wondered if there’s actually any footage from this fire as I never saw any and found this on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdtaFbEm8k8
#2 by Coop on December 7, 2015 - 5:25 PM
Great photos Jim. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your collection.
#3 by Eric Haak on December 7, 2015 - 11:16 AM
Incredible images. I don’t believe we will ever experience something like this again in the city. There are only a few buildings left of this size and construction. Hard to believe that fires of this magnitude would occur a couple times a year back in the 60s and 70s.
#4 by eugene O on December 7, 2015 - 10:25 AM
Jim beautiful photos my friend THANK YOU.