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This from Steve Redick:

I was able to take in the big job on Tuesday, a 4-11 (actually with all the extra units well over a 5-11 response) at Haddon & Kilbourn. First let’s have a little history lesson. September of 1990 a 4-11 alarm occurred in the same building. A certain famous west side chief gave a radio report describing a concrete structure converted into a flea market and asked for a precautionary box that elevated to a 4-11 Alarm. One comment was made to the effect of this is a concrete structure … the fire is not gonna go anywhere … after this transmission a phantom voice came on the radio and said yeah so was McCormick Place. A fun thing to share and the chief involved is a well respected and admired guy, now enjoying retirement. Perhaps history has enhanced this little anecdote but it’s worth recalling.

Anyway I have enclosed an aerial view of the building involved. It was a massive structure containing thousands of square feet of flea market booths, many sealed off with cyclone fencing. Everything under the sun was stored and sold here. There were no real windows and to make matters worse the entire roof consisted of a concrete parking surface … impossible to ventilate in any way. The building backs up to an elevated railroad embankment, and other access is generally poor with narrow streets in a crowded industrial district. A perfect storm of factors created a massive and dangerous incident.

Arriving units reported heavy smoke conditions and could barely see to maneuver apparatus down the street. Heavy fire was in an area set back from the street, under the parking deck. I arrived about 35 minutes in and observed fire and smoke venting from the inaccessible center portion of the complex. Cars were falling into the fire as the concrete roof deck collapsed.Tower ladder 14 was operating with it’s brand new E-One tower ladder, only days in service.

The fire traveled into a massive portion of the building to the north and caused dangerous smoke conditions making Division Street impassable. A truck company attempted entry into this section using a searchline and TIC but made little headway due obstructions. Several in-line operations were conducted, including two engines driving up on the railroad right-of-way. The hose wagon performed two massive hose lays along Division Street, one east and one west of the fire building. The new Turret Wagon 6-7-3 was also put to use.  Smoke conditions downwind were punishing to the engineers as well as members in the tower buckets. The incident lasted many hours and units were on the scene all night long. The building was so large at least one additional RIT was in place.

All of the images can be seen on my website:

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

more photos at firescenes.net