Chicago companies responded to a fire Sunday evening in an auto body shop at 5001 S. Western Avenue.
We have submissions from two that took in this fire, Gordon J. Nord, Jr. and D. Herndobler.
Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
D. Herndobler photo
Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
D. Herndobler photo
Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
D. Herndobler photo
Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
D. Herndobler photo
Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
D. Herndobler photo
Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
D. Herndobler photo
Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
D. Herndobler photo
D. Herndobler photo
D. Herndobler photo
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.
Firefighters sift through the rubble of what once was a Chicago style bungalow in the 6600 block os Keating this afternoon. Tim Olk photo
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
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
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
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
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.
Sep 17
Chicago firefighters responded yesterday to a fire at 525 W. Armitage, less than a block from the quarters of Engine 22. Upon arrival, they found heavy fire on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a three-flat that was undergoing renovation. The alarm was escalated to a 2-11 for additional companies. During the course of the fire, the building suffered a catastrophic collapse. The Chicago Tribune has a brief story HERE.
Tim Olk arrived at the fire after the collapse and submitted several images.
Firefighters work from the bucket of Squad 1 with a hand line and the master stream. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters use a hand line from an adjacent roof top. Tim Olk photo
Engine 22 sits in Sector 4 on Mohawk as fire continues to burn in the pile of debris. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters standby in the street with a hand line. Tim Olk photo
The front shell of the building facing Armitage remains standing after the rest of the building collapsed. Tim Olk photo
The building sat on the corner of Armitage and Mohawk, The collapse occurred on the Mohawk side of the structure. Tim Olk photo
A gallery with more images can be viewed HERE.
Chicago had a 2-11 Alarm for a fire at 3056 N. Milwaukee Avenue Monday morning. The Chicago Tribune reports:
The fire broke out at 9:24 a.m. in the building at 3056 North Milwaukee Avenue and when firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was billowing from the basement and the ceiling appeared to be involved in the fire, according to fire department spokesman Larry Langford.
No one was in the two story building, which housed the bakery on the first floor and apartments on the second, Langford said.
Tim Olk and Steve Redick were at the scene. Steve submitted a video and Tim submitted several images.
The fire which originated in the basement forced firefighters out of the building shortly after they arrived. The Mobile Ventilation Unit was called to the scene and deployed. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters use a hand line from the roof of a neighboring building. Tim Olk photo
The 13th Battalion goes to work removing roofing materials. Tim Olk photo
As one company applies water to the fire, another works on ventilation. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters climb the rear stairs as fire burns inside the second floor. Tim Olk photo
The complete Tribune article is HERE.
Tim Olk has more photos HERE.
Sep 12
Chicago had a commercial fire Sunday morning at 5614 W. Grand Avenue.
Steve Redick and Dan McInerney both took in the fire and submitted images.
Heavy fire burns through the auto body shop on Grand Avenue. Steve Redick photo
Firefighters use street level deluge guns in a defensive mode to fight the fire Sunday morning. Steve Redick photo
Steve provided the following information:
This morning about 0600 a 2-11 alarm at 5614 Grand ave. A 1 sty commercial attached to a truss roof auto repair garage. I arrived a few minutes after the 2-11 was pulled…and some of the box alarm companies were still going to work. Squad 2 had no snorkel and both tower ladders (14 and 23) were in spares too. The fire was through the roof just before the first images and 2 separate collapses occurred while I was there…I didn’t get them on video or stills but notice just the roof came in..no other outward collapses of the parapets or bearing walls seem to have occurred. I wonder if there were fire cuts on the truss ends. Also got some shots of 43 stretching up a ground ladder to the roof of exposure 2 for a point of vantage operation. All in all an interesting fire…shift change was taking place at the same time so that’s why you see members in various states of dress. I am enclosing a link to a short video with radio traffic I shot as well…
Two tower ladders worked in addition to multiple hand lines and multi-versals. Steve Redick photo
Engine 68 was the first due engine and had a deck gun and several hand lines flowing. Steve Redick photo
This image from later in the incident shows the tremendous amount of water that was used to hit the fire. Dan McInerney photo
Dan had the following comments:
This was a one story truss roof auto body shop. It looked 75×100, fire throughout. Exposure in sector 2 was a one story 25×100 with fire throughout as well.These are of E117 and T35. E117 had 2 lines off I believe to the roof of the building driectly to the west of the exposure building operating from a point of vantage. T35 had their main to that roof as well.
Shot from the rear shows heavy fire burning through the roof. Steve Redick photo
Firefighters from Engine 117 hoist a hose up a ground ladder to use the roof of a building in Sector 2 to hit the fire. Steve Redick photo
The 2-story house to the west had two 2-1/2s operating on the roof plus a 2-1/2 and a 1-3/4 out the second floor windows. Dan McInerney photo
Video links, photo galleries and more images will be posted in a follow-up article.
Jul 12
Drew Gresik took in a MABAS 2nd Alarm this evening in Brookfield and submitted the following images and description.
Fire was reported showing from the garage of a 2-story ordinary home in the 3500 block of Rosemear. The fire soon demolished the garage and spread quickly to the home upgrading the fire to a 2-alarm fire. It was upgraded to a full MABAS Division 10 response, and even became inter-divisional with departments from MABAS Division 11, 20, and 21 responding. There were 4 lines stretched and almost all crews were working.
Fire burns through the what's left of the roof at a house fire on Rosmear in Brookfiled. Drew Gresik photo
The garage where the fire originated was gutted as the fire spread into the two-story home. Drew Gresik photo
Brookfield Engine 412 was on a hydrant down the street. Drew Gresik photo
Lagrange Park Engine 1211 (an HME/Smeal) was staged down the block. Drew Gresik photo
Riverside Truck 1629, a low-profile Seagrave quint was also staged down the block. Drew Gresik photo
Tri-State Tower 529, a 2010 Spartan/Smeal was among the many companies that responded to assist Brookfield. Drew Gresik photo
Several more pieces of apparatus lined the street for more than a block. Drew Gresik photo
Jul 2
The Addison Fire Department elevated a fire in a commercial building at 2150 Executive Drive to a Second Alarm on Saturday afternoon. John Tulipano went to the scene and reported that the fire was in a lazar cutting machine inside a large commercial building. Temperatures were 95+ degrees.
John submitted a few images from the scene.
Lombard Truck 52 is positioned on the side of the building with the aerial to the roof. John Tulipano photo
Elnhurst Squad 1 was staged while company members worked at the scene. John Tulipano photo
Firefighters gear up after receiving an assignment to go inside the building. John Tulipano photo
Bloomingdale Engine 1 was also in staging. John Tulipano photo
Lombard's Battalion Chief was assigned as a sector officer at the fire. John Tulipano photo
John has a few more images which can be found HERE.
The 3rd Alarm in Lake Zurich's district originated in this attached garage. Larry Shapiro photo
The homeowner at 21396 Brandon Road in Kildeer called the fire department this evening shortly after 6PM to report a fire in the attached three-car garage. Fire protection is provided by the Lake Zurich Fire Department who responded with three engines and a truck. Long Grove responded auto-aid with a 3,000-gallon tanker since this neighborhood is without hydrants. The header could be seen as units went en-route and the alarm was filled out for the working fire. Upon arrival, companies were met with 20-foot flames from the garage which contained two cars. The alarm was quickly elevated to a MABAS Box Alarm and then a 2nd Alarm was requested within minutes. Lake Zurich Engine 4 setup at the base of the driveway after the tower ladder was backed into the driveway.
Lake Zurich Engine 4 is on the street just outside the driveway where the truck is parked. Larry Shapiro photo
Placement of the Lake Zurich tower ladder on the narrow driveway meant that all of the outriggers were set on grass. Larry Shapiro photo
A skid-load and a 2 1/2 were pulled from Engine 4 which had 1,000 gallons of tank water that was immediately supplemented by 3,000 gallons from Long Grove Tanker 55. As these lines went to work, Lake Zurich Engine 3 laid 900 feet of 5″ down the road where they took an in-line position. Lake Zurich Engine 2 laid out an additional 700 feet of 5″ to the end of the street where they were met by Barrington Tanker 361 who setup their portable tank. The in-line operation was completed before companies ran out of water.
After providing Lake Zurich Engine 4 with an additional 3,000 gallons of water, Long Grove Tanker 55 backs down the long block to make way for other units to head to the fire scene. Larry Shapiro photo
Looking east on Brandon Road from the fire scene, Lake Zurich Engine 3 is seen 900 feet away, and in the distance, Engine 2 is another 700 feet farther down at the corner. Larry Shapiro photo
The bulk of the fire was contained to the garage area with some extension into the house and the attic area.
Arlington Heights firefighters prepare to ventilate the roof as interior crews work to extinguish fire that extended into the attic. Larry Shapiro photo
A Lake Zurich firefighter wets down areas of the garage after the fire has been declared under control. Larry Shapiro photo
Lake Forest firefighters hit the remaining hot spots in the garage after the outer wall collapsed. Larry Shapiro photo
A 3rd Alarm was requested for manpower to assist companies with salvage and overhaul. One firefighter was transported to the hospital after going through rehab.
Larry Shapiro went to the scene and although he spotted the header from Buffalo Grove, the main body of fire was knocked down before he arrived at the scene. He submitted several images from the scene.
Lake Forest also responded to the fire with Engine 422. Larry Shapiro photo
Mundelein Engine 431 was due on the Box Alarm. Larry Shapiro photo
Grayslake responded on the 2nd Alarm with Engine 2717 which was staged half a mile from the fire scene. Larry Shapiro photo
Mt Prospect Engine 13 was one of the farthest companies to respond to the fire in Kildeer. Larry Shapiro photo
Departments assisting at the scene included tankers from Long Grove, Barrington, Nunda, Cary, and Palatine Rural. Engines came from Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Fox River Grove, Grayslake, Mundelein, Mt. Prospect, and Lake Forest. Ambulances on the scene were from Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Libertyville, Highland Park, and Lake Villa. Squads came from Deerfield, Wauconda, and Gurnee, plus Arlington Heights responded with a tower ladder.
A large gallery of images from the scene can be found HERE.
The Chicago Tribune has an article HERE.
May 28
Chicago responded to a reported fire in a church at 3450 W. 15th Street around 6AM this morning. First arriving units encountered heavy smoke and fire in a 50×150 2 1/2-story brick church and immediately requested a Box Alarm. Tower Ladder 5 and Squad 1 went to work right away before a special call was made for the reserve Snorkel. Fire was traveling fro the front towards the rear of the structure and a 2-11 Alarm was sounded.
Companies made quick work of knocking down the fire and preventing further spread. The majority of the 2-11 companies were never used.
Gordon J. Nord, Jr., Tim Olk, and Steve Redick went to the scene though the fire was basically out prior to any of them arriving. Tim and Steve submitted several images.
Engine 38 was the first engine on the scene and was on a hydrant on 15th Street just past the fire building. Steve Redick photo
Chicago Tower 5 deployed in front put their but right at the big stained glass window for a vantage point into the church. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters from Tower 5 complete overhaul in the large window opening. Tim Olk photo
Squad 1 was setup in the rear of the structure and put firefighters onto the roof. Tim Olk photo
Engine 107, the second-due engine, was on the south side of the building on 15th Street in Sector 1. Tim Olk photo
An interior view showing some of the damage to the building. Tim Olk photo
Reserve Snorkel 1 (6-6-1) was special called to the scene from Engine 35's house but was never put to work. Steve Redick photo
A brief article by the Chicago Tribune is HERE.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
