Des Plaines firefighters responded to a fire at Maine Scrap Metals at 1274 Rand Road just after 11PM on Wednesday (1/10/18). They arrived and had fire inside the building and upgraded the alarm to a working fire. Within minutes they were defensive with flames through the roof and a compromised exterior wall. The alarm was upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm as master streams were put into operation. Eventually four elevated streams were deployed from Des Plaines Tower 61, Des Plaines Tower 63, Niles Truck 2, and Chicago Squad 7A. 

After the bulk of the fire was out and access to the smoldering fire was difficult due to the roof collapse, a front end loader was brought in to knock down the remains of the D-Sector wall which bordered a limousine company. Several parked vehicles were damaged on this property. Mount Prospect Hose/Foam Tender 12 was called several hours later and they applied one large tub of foam in hopes of smothering the stubborn remnants of fire.

Companies at the scene included Des Plaines Engines 61, 62, 63, Towers 61 63, Ambulances 61, 62, 63, Battalion 61, 6101, and 6100. Mutual aid engines came from Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Park Ridge, and Skokie. Trucks came from Arlington Heights, Niles, and Schiller Park. Squads were from Prospect Heights and Chicago Squad 7 from O’Hare. Ambulances on the scene were from Mount Prospect, North Maine, Niles, and Park Ridge. Chief officers came from Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village, North Maine, Schiller Park, and Chicago.

While companies were still working this fire, Des Plaines had a working fire on the south end of town. 

There will be more images and videos from this fire.

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: ACP-55 55' articulating Cobra Platform, Chicago FD Squad 7A, Chicago FD Squad 7A Rosenbauer Commaner, commercial building fire in Des Plaines, Des Plaines FD Tower 61, Des Plaines Fire Department, fire scene photos, Larry Shapiro, Maine Scrap Metal fire in Des Plaines, shapirophotography.net