Posts Tagged 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

4-11 Alarm High-Rise fire in Chicago, 1-25-23 (more)

From Captured News on YouTube:

The Chicago Fire Department was called to the scene of a devastating high-rise fire in the Kenwood neighborhood on the city’s South Side that has left one resident dead and multiple others injured. Crews were called to the building, located at 4850 S Lake Park Ave, at approximately 10:00 am on Wednesday morning, after reports of smoke and flames were seen coming from the 15th floor. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire was starting to spread to the 16th floor, with thick smoke and intense heat making it difficult to contain the blaze. Despite the challenges, crews were able to evacuate the building, and several residents were transported to local hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation and other injuries. At least 10 ambulances responded to the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but officials say it appears to have started in one of the 15th floor units. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it is clear that most of the units will be uninhabitable for some time.The power for the elevators was lost, forcing firefighters to use the stairwells to evacuate the building, including elderly residents who may have had difficulty getting out on their own. Despite the challenges, crews were able to evacuate the building, and several residents were transported to local hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation and other injuries. The Red Cross is currently assisting displaced residents with temporary housing and other needs.

thanks Keith

Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:

A fire broke out in the 15th floor of the 25-story Harper Square Co-Op building in the 4800-block of South Lake Park Avenue just after 10 a.m. Wednesday. Wind caused the fire to spread very quickly, going vertically from floor to floor all the way up to the 24th floor.

It took hundreds of firefighters to knock out the flames, and the elevators were out, so all of the equipment had to be lifted up manually.

One woman found dead on the 15th floor. Eight other residents were injured. A firefighter was also injured. Nearly half of the units in the building are now considered uninhabitable.

The Chicago Fire Department said smoking materials ignited combustibles in a bedroom and ruled the fire an accident. A smoke detector was in the residence but was not working, CFD said.

The identity of the woman killed has not yet been released, but those who knew her said she was a retired teacher in her 80s.

Apparently the building has failed its seven last inspections by the Department of Buildings (DOB), including one on Dec. 1, 2022, for not testing the fire alarm and evacuation system.

After being in violation for more than a year, 4850 South Lake Park Thursday submitted certification by outside contractor Fox Valley Fire & Safety. Paper work obtained shows fire alarms passed inspection. But the records submitted Thursday were for testing done at the end of 2021, more than a year ago. So at the time of the fire, the high rise was still not in fire compliance,

DOB also said during an inspection on Nov. 7, 2022, violations for the interior door tags, exterior masonry and for failing to file the required high-rise exterior wall report were noted. The DOB also referred the violations to the Department of Law, which filed an enforcement action in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The court case is scheduled to be hears on Feb. 2.

The apartment building, which was built in 1970, has 298 apartments in it, with about 267 units occupied, and individual units in this building do not have sprinklers.

After the deadly 2003 fire at the Cook County Administration Building, the city passed an ordinance requiring all residential high rises to pass what’s called a “life safety evaluation.” The ordinance does not require sprinklers as long as buildings put in passive measures, such as self-closing doors to contain a fire.

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4-11 Alarm High-Rise fire in Chicago, 1-25-23 (more)

From Steve Redick:

video and radio traffic from the 4-11 Alarm High-Rise fire in Chicago, 1-25-23

 

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4-11 Alarm High-Rise fire in Chicago, 1-25-23

From CFD Media on Twitter:

Still and box high rise 4800 lake park fire on 18 th floor.

2 11 fire 4850 lake park. Fire on upper floor.

4850 lake park 2 11 high rise with injuries

2 11. 4850 lake park. Under control

Fire in 16 under control. Fire now on 17 on lake park. One red transport so far.

Fire on 15. 16. 17 on lake park.

 

 

#chicagoareafire.com; #ChicagoFD; #high-rise; #3-11;

CFD Media photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #ChicagoFD; #high-rise; #3-11;

CFD Media photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #ChicagoFD; #high-rise; #3-11;

CFD Media photo

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Vintage Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire – November 1989

This from Steve Redick:

Some shots from a 4-11 at Hastings and Wolcott in Chicago. It was a barrel works as I recall and the embers from this drifted a block away and burned out some rooms on the top floor of an occupied apartment building. I forget it’s exact location. We ran down there just as the companies arrived. It may have been a box or maybe they just grabbed units from the 4-11. Truck 1 was used here with their brand new E-One rig with the pre-piped waterway. This was November 1989.

Steve Redick

vintage Chicago fire scene photo

Steve Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire scene photo

Steve Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire scene photo

Steve Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire scene photo

Steve Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire scene photo

Steve Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire scene photo

Steve Redick photo

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16 (more)

Photos from Tim Olk of the ATF National Response Team at the scene of the 4-11 Alarm fire at  4540 W. Haddon

ATF national Response Team

Tim Olk photo

ATF national Response Team

Tim Olk photo

Chicago 5-11 Club Support Service Unit

Tim Olk photo

excavator at fire scene ruins

Tim Olk photo

excavator at fire scene ruins

Tim Olk photo

ATF K-9

Tim Olk photo

ATF national Response Team

Tim Olk photo

ATF national Response Team

Tim Olk photo

ATF national Response Team

Tim Olk photo

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16 (more)

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:

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Chicago firefighter at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago firefighter at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago firefighter at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago firefighter at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Chicago firefighter at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire scene

Steve Redick photo

heavy smoke at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 at work

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD Hose Wagon 6-1-2

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD Hose Wagon 6-1-2

Steve Redick photo

more photos at firescenes.net

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16 (more)

Images and video by Steve Redick from the Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16 

Chicago fire truck at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire truck at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16 (more)

More photos from the Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16

Chicago firefighters battle a commercial fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago fire truck at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

E-ONE Cyclone II tower ladder at work in Chicago

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Snorkel at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 2A, the Snorkel at work

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Air Mask Unit 6-4-6

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago firefighters battle a huge fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Engine 44 at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

Firemen drag hose at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago fire truck at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago fire truck at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago firefighters battle a huge fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago fire truck at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

fireman climbing aerial at fire

Tim Olk photo

Heavy smoke and flames at building fire in Chicago

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD African American captain

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD District Chief Tim Sampey at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago fire engines at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen with hose at fire

Tim Olk photo

fire chief at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 at work

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 at work

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago firefighters battle a commercial fire

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters after a fire

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD District Chief Tim Sampey at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

more photos at shapirophotography.net

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16 (more)

Video by Larry Shapiro from the 4-11 Alarm fire at 4540 W. Haddon (3/8/16)

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm + 1 Special and Haz Mat Level I, 3-8-16 (more)

Images from Tim Olk of the 4-11 Alarm fire at 4540 W. Haddon (3/8/16)

Chicago firefighter at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

car on fire in garage

Tim Olk photo

tower ladder working at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Snorkel at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

heavy smoke from commercial fire

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

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