Big header seen while approaching the scene from the north on Western Avenue. Dave Weaver photo

Massive fire and smoke consume the building at 2444 W. 21st Street in Chicago on 12-29-12 as seen from the northwest. Dave Weaver photo

Firefighters from Engine 23 with Tower Ladder 5 (using a spare apparatus) monitor a multi-versal at the west end of the block . Dave Weaver photo

Engine 18. Both 18 & 5 pumping to the fireground and connected to hydrants using hard suction. Dan McInerney photo

Engine 5 pumping to the Tower Ladder 39. Dan McInerney photo

Air Mask Unit 6-4-4. Dan McInerney photo

E109 pumping to E23 which was under the viaduct. 109 was a still engine and connected two sections of 4 inch hose to the hydrant. The remaining engines arriving connected via hard suction hose per CFD operating procedures for large fires. Engines arriving on the 2-11 alarm and above will make their connections using the 6 inch hard suction hose. Dan McInerney photo

E99 was sent to lay lines if needed to the roof to cover flying brands. Dan McInerney photo

E44 pumping to a multi-versal on the southeast corner of the building. Dan McInerney photo

E103 seen receiving water from E28 down the street from the east and from a hydrant. Dan McInerney photo

E65 is seen pumping to E26. E65 is shown connected to the hydrant using the lightweight suction hose. There are two types of lightweight suction hose – the first is hose that is to be used for suction only (negative pressure) and not to be connected to a pressurized hydrant (positive pressure). The type of lightweight suction hose the CFD now issues to rigs is reinforced internally to be able to withstand positive pressure. Dan McInerney photo

The type of lightweight suction hose the CFD now issues to rigs is reinforced internally to be able to withstand positive pressure. The reinforcing matrix is visibile as a white colored lattice underneath the clear sections of the hose. Dan McInerney photo

T52 – rig shot while in staging. Dan McInerney photo

CTA emergency unit 202. This unit respond citywide for any emergency involing the EL tracks or CTA property. In this case they responded to the scene due to the fire’s proximity to the Pink Line, which was shut down early on in the fire. Dan McInerney photo

Peoples Gas was requested to shut down the gas to the building. To do so, they had to dig a hole in the street, which is visible here underneath the sheets of plywood and cones. It was later requested they use their front end loader to clear the street of bricks from the collapse so TL54 could be moved west down 21st St. to better wash down the ruins. Dan McInerney photo

E23 (still engine) took a postion underneath the railroad viaduct directly to the west of the fire building. This spot left the rest of 21st St. open for responding truck companies, and also provided them some protection from falling debris should the building collapse. The viadust later flooded due to the fire streams being used on the building. At it’s height there were at least 11 master streams being employed. At a slightly conservative 500gpm each, a minimum of around 6000gpm for 2 plus hours will flood any viaduct, and they usually do flood. Dan McInerney photo

T7 rig shot ( RIT truck at the 4-11). Dan McInerney photo

Truck 48 with the ladder to the roof of a nearby building. Dan McInerney photo

Unmanned multiversals on the SW corner of the fire building. Dan McInerney photo