Looking at the scene facing west on 37th Street, Engine 29 is on a hydrant with Squad 1A and Tower Ladder 37 working in Sector 1. Larry Shapiro photo
Light smoke pushes out of the building at 1428 W. 27th Street this morning. Josh Boyajian photo
At approximately 8AM this morning the Chicago Fire Department received a report of black smoke coming from a four-story warehouse at 1427 W. 37th Street. First arriving companies reported a fire and the alarm was elevated to a 2-11 within minutes. A 3-11 was struck roughly a half hour later which was struck out around 9:30AM. Three tower ladders and the Snorkel from Squad 1 were all working along with one multi-versal and hand lines. Seven engines (19, 28, 29, 39, 49, 50, and 65) were working at the scene as well.
55-gallon drums were stacked throughout the building prompting a Haz Mat Level I, though the barrels were empty. Larry Shapiro photo
A Level I Haz Mat was requested when companies discovered stacks of 55-gallon drums inside the building, but the drums turned out to be empty as the building’s occupant is a manufacturer of industrial drums and containers.
Squad 1 works in the background and Engine 29 supplies them with water. Josh Boyajian photo
Higgins Brothers, Inc. manufactures industrial drums and containers. Larry Shapiro photo
Tower Ladder 5 was in the rear of the building. Larry Shapiro photo
Tower Ladder 37 was setup at the 1-2 corner of the building on 37th Street. Larry Shapiro photo
Tower Ladder 39, running with a spare unit, was in the adjacent lot on the east side of the building in Sector 4. Larry Shapiro photo
Companies enter in the rear of the building after the fire is knocked down. Larry Shapiro photo
The Chicago Tribune has an article on the fire HERE.
Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were at the scene as well as several other photographers. A gallery can be found HERE.
