Archive for December 30th, 2012

Chicago 4-11 Alarm Fire 12-29-12 (pt 6)

Dec 30

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News | 1 Comment

Sixth article about the 4-11 Alarm fire on Saturday at 2444 W. 21st Place in Chicago.

Eric Haak tells us:

On May 26, 2007, the same building had a 2-11 alarm fire on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I am submitting these photos to give perspective as they show the building intact. On that day, the fire appeared to originate in a back section that is seen in the first photo. A witness I spoke to today stated that today’s fire appeared to initiate from that same back section. The second photo is taken from the railroad bridge looking east and shows the entire structure’s length. The last photo is shown looking west from Western. Credits to Eric Haak.

2-11 Alarm warehouse fire at 2444 S. 21st Street 5-26-07

A 2-11 Alarm fire occurred 5-26-07 at the same warehouse at 2444 S. 21st Street. Eric Haak photo

2-11 Alarm warehouse fire at 2444 S. 21st Street 5-26-07. Eric Haak photo

Truck 32 operates at 2444 S. 21st Street on May 26, 2007. Eric Haak photo

Tags: 2-11 alarm fire in Chicago, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Truck 32, Eric Haak, previous fire at the scene of the 4-11 alarm fire 12-29-12, warehouse fire at 2444 S. 21st Street in 2007

Chicago 4-11 Alarm Fire 12-29-12 (pt 5)

Dec 30

Posted by Admin in Fire, Fire Service News, Firefighters working | 12 Comments

Fifth article about the 4-11 Alarm fire on Saturday at 2444 W. 21st Place in Chicago.

Images from Dave Weaver:

Chicago 4-11 Alarm massive fire at commercial warehouse facility 12-29-12 at 2444 S. 21st Street

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

Images from Dan McInerney:

Chicago fire department engine pumping at fire

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

Chicago fire engine pumping at a fire scene

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

Chicago Fire Department engine working at fire scene

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

Chicago Fire Department Truck 7 at fire scene

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

Chicago Fire Department Truck 48 at fire scene

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

4-11 alarm commercial building fire in Chicago 12-29-12 at 2444 W. 21st Street

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

The previous post was HERE.

Tags: 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 4-11 fire in commercial building, Chicago Air Mask Unit 6-4-4, Chicago Engine 103, Chicago Engine 109, Chicago Engine 18, Chicago Engine 23, Chicago Engine 44, Chicago Engine 5, Chicago Engine 65, Chicago Engine 99, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Truck 48, Chicago Truck 52, Chicago Truck 7, CTA Emergency Response Unit, Dan McInerney, Dave Weaver, massive fire at 2444 W. 21st Street in Chicago, People's Gas Company crew working at fire scene, tower ladder working at fire

Chicago 4-11 Alarm Fire 12-29-12 (pt 4)

Dec 30

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | Comments off

Here’s a run-down of Saturday’s 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street compiled from several sources:

13:08 E23 looking for rubbish 2500 W. Cullerton St. / Full Still b/o Main FAO for 2444 W. 21st St.

Engine 23 Engine 109 Truck 32 Truck 7 Battalion 4 Tower Ladder 5 Squad 1 Command Van 2-7-1 Battalion 14 Ambulance 34 Paramedic Field Chief 4-5-7

13:13 Still & Box Alarm b/o Batt 4 for 3-story, 200×100 smoke on 2nd fl and heavy smoke from several 1st fl windows

Engine 18 Engine 26 Truck 8 Ambulance 33 Deputy District 1 Battalion 15 Battalion 2 Paramedic Field Chief 4-5-1

13:20 2-11 Alarm b/o 2-2-1 reports heavy fire throughout 3-story warehouse 200×150 – Companies go defensive – Batt 2 requests CTA Pink Line be shut down

Engine 28  Engine 38  Engine 39  Engine 103  Truck 48  Tower Ladder 54  Truck 52  Battalion 12  Battalion 3  Battalion 19 Air Mask 6-4-4 Light Wagon 9-1-5 EMS Assistant Deputy Chief 4-4-11 Special Operations Battalion 5-1-5 Deputy Fire Commissioner 2-1-28

13:31 2-2-1 requests reserve snorkel – Corrected size-up by 2-2-1 is at least 300×150

Engine 107  Engine 35 with 6-6-1 (Reserve Snorkel)

13:38 3-11 Alarm b/o 2-1-28 plus 2 additional TLs

Engine 8  Engine 65  Engine 99  Engine 44 Tower Ladder 10  Tower Ladder 39

13:45 4-11 Alarm / EMS Plan 1 / Level 1 HazMat b/o 2-1-28

Engine 5  Engine 57  Engine 14  Engine 113  Haz Mat 5-1-1  Ambulance 45  Ambulance 19  Ambulance 88  Ambulance 44  Ambulance 21  Ambulance 53 Paramedic Field Chief 4-5-4

13:58 2-7-1/Batt 4 4 master streams on West side of building making little progress

14:00 EMS Plan 1 secured b/o 2-1-28

14:04 2-1-3 in command / All officers switch to Ch 5 Command

14:30 2-7-1/2-1-3 11 master streams working, gas company digging in Sector 1 to shut off main, 1 line to sprinkler system in Sector 4

15:46 4-11 Alarm struck out b/o 2-1-3

*apparatus that is underlined was put to work (engines pumping, trucks extended)

thanks Dave, Scott, and Bill

The previous post was HERE.

Tags: 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 4-11 fire in commercial building, Chicago Fire Department, massive fire at 2444 W. 21st Street in Chicago, rundown of 4-11 Alarm fire 12-29-12 in Chicago

Chicago 4-11 Alarm Fire 12-29-12 (pt 3)

Dec 30

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News, Fire Truck photos, Firefighters working | Comments off

Third article about the 4-11 Alarm fire on Saturday at 2444 W. 21st Place in Chicago.

Images from Steve Redick who arrived on the scene very early into the incident. Previous posts are HERE and HERE.

Massive fire blows out all windows in Sector 1. Steve Redick photo

Another image showing the intense fire that overtook the building. Steve Redick photo

Heavy fire burns through a loading dock in the alley behind the building. Steve Redick photo

Heavy fire seen throughout the building and through the roof from Sector 3 prior to companies operating on that side. Steve Redick photo

An officer directs companies into the gravel lot off Cullerton Street in Sector 3. Steve Redick photo

Chicago 4-11 Alarm massive fire at commercial warehouse facility 12-29-12 at 2444 S. 21st Street Snorkel

Heavy fire burns throughout the building as Squad 1A takes position in Sector 3. Steve Redick photo

A large diameter supply line is stretched to supply a master stream in Sector 3. Steve Redick photo

Squad 1 positions their Snorkel. Steve Redick photo

Firefighters elevate the basket of Tower Ladder 54 as they prepare to put the master stream to work. Steve Redick photo

As Tower Ladder 54 is readied for a master stream, Truck 7 sits on the corner before being moved to allow Tower Ladder 10 to setup. Steve Redick photo

Chicago Engine 26 secures a hydrant on 21st Street at Western Avenue. Steve Redick photo

The thick smoke and heavy fire seems to turn day into night along 21st Street. Steve Redick photo

Fire blows out of two sides of the three-story warehouse building. Steve Redick photo

Truck 32 was rigged for aerial pipe operations but a decision was made instead to special call two additional tower ladders to the scene. Steve Redick photo

A pair of Battalion buggies which will have to be repositioned as the fire spreads rapidly throughout the almost block-long building. Steve Redick photo

Tower Ladder 54 goes to work at the corner of Western Avenue and 21st Street. Steve Redick photo

More of Steve’s images can be found HERE.

Tags: 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, Chicago Engine 26, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department Snorkel Squad 1, Chicago Fire Department warehouse fire video, Chicago Snorkel Squad, Chicago Snorkel Squads, Chicago Snorkel works at commercial fire, Chicago Tower Ladder 54, elevated master stream, elevated master stream used to fight fire, elevated master streams work at extra alarm fire, firemen in tower ladder with fire, massive fire at 2444 W. 21st Street in Chicago, Steve Redick, tower ladder working at fire, tower ladder working at fire scene

Chicago 4-11 Alarm Fire 12-29-12 (pt 2)

Dec 30

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos, Firefighters working | Comments off

Second article about the 4-11 Alarm fire on Saturday at 2444 W. 21st Place in Chicago.

Images from Larry Shapiro who arrived at the scene well after all of the other contributors in the first article.

After the roof and upper floors collapsed, heavy fire was concentrated in the ground floor. Larry Shapiro photo

4-11 alarm commercial building fire in Chicago 12-29-12 at 2444 W. 21st Street Chicago Tower Ladder 54

Engine 26 was at the corner of 21st Street and Western Avenue. Larry Shapiro photo

Thick black smoke clouds the sky as the fire burns a section of the roof at the east end of the fire building several hours into the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Engine 28, a 1997 HME Luverne supplies Engine 103 from the 2300 block of Cullerton Street. Larry Shapiro photo

Engines 18 and 5 pump in-line to supply master streams from Sector 3 off Cullerton Street. Larry SHapiro photo

Engine 35 is feeding Tower Ladder 10 on Western Avenue. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters drag a line to put a multi-versal into operation in Sector 3. Larry Shapiro photo

Tower Ladder 39, in Sector 3, awaits water to put their master stream to work. Larry Shapiro photo

6-6-1, the reserve Snorkel housed with Engine 35, was special called to the scene almost immediately. Larry Shapiro photo

Command Van 2-7-1 is setup on Western Avenue. Larry Shapiro photo

The gas company brought a crew to the scene to dig under the street in order to shut down the gas to the building. Seen among the ruins in Sector 1, a gas fed fire burns freely. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry has a gallery of images HERE.

Tags: 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 4-11 fire in commercial building, Chicago Command Van 2-7-1, Chicago Command Van 271, Chicago Engine 26, Chicago Engine 28, Chicago Engine 38, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department Snorkel Squad 1, Chicago Fire Department warehouse fire video, Chicago reserve Snorkel 6-6-1, Chicago Snorkel Squad, Chicago Snorkel Squads, Chicago Snorkel works at commercial fire, Chicago Tower Ladder 10, Chicago Tower Ladder 54, elevated master stream, elevated master stream used to fight fire, elevated master streams work at extra alarm fire, firemen in tower ladder with fire, Larry Shapiro, LTI tower ladder at Chicago fire, massive fire at 2444 W. 21st Street in Chicago, Snorkel on a Seagrave chassis, tower ladder working at fire, tower ladder working at fire scene

Chicago 4-11 Alarm Fire 12-29-12 (pt 1)

Dec 30

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News, Fire Truck photos, Firefighters working, Firefighting Video | 4 Comments

Commercial fire today at 2441 W. 21st Street came in after 1PM. First units found a three-story, brick, commercial factory/warehouse well involved. The alarms quickly escalated to a 4-11 with an EMS Plan I and a Haz Mat Level I. The building was bounded on the west by railroad tracks and on the north by the elevated CTA tracks which were shut down for several hours. The EMS Plan was secured quickly and the 4-11 wasn’t struck out until roughly 4PM. Some companies remained on the scene throughout the night.

Two Snorkels (Squad 1 and the reserve Snorkel) were working along with four tower ladders (5, 10, 39 & 54).

We have a large amount of coverage from multiple contributors which will be posted in several posts tonight and tomorrow.

This from Josh Boyajian:

Even though I’m not at the scene, thought I would share these pics from Laramie and Ogden in Cicero of the header!

Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12

The header as seen from Cicero. Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12 as seen from Cicero, IL. Josh Boyajian photo

This from Erick Haak:

Not much of a description needed other than the last photo is just as the wall collapsed. Photos credited to Eric Haak.

Chicago Tower Ladder 54 working on 21st Street with a master Stream. Eric Haak photo

massive flames at Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12

Phenomenal fire in Sector 1 at the Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12. Eric Haak photo

The wall collapse in Sector 1 as seen from the west end of 21st Street. Eric Haak photo

The front wall collapses onto 21st Street at the 4-11 Alarm fire 12-29-12. Eric Haak photo

This from Dylan Konchan:

Hi my name is Dylan Konchan i got pics from the 4-11 alarm at 2441 W 21st there will be more to come by me

The west end of the structure as fire burns through the roof as seen from the north (Sector 3). Dylan Konchan photo

Seagrave Snorkel at Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12

The reserve Snorkel enters the lot behind the building in Sector 3 as heavy fire burns through the roof. Dylan Konchan photo

85' Snorkel goes to work at Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12

The reserve Snorkel (6-6-1) moves into position to go to work. Dylan Konchan photo

The reserve Snorkel is ready to work as an elevated master stream in Sector 3. Dylan Konchan photo

A glimpse of the heavy fire and thick smoke in Sector 3. Dylan Konchan photo

This from Drew Gresik:

Hey everyone,

I just took the ride into the City to check out the 4-11 with Level 1 Haz-Mat and EMS Plan 1 at 2444 W 21st Street. The header was huge, I saw it all the way in Berwyn on Ogden Avenue. When I got in the neighborhood of the fire, the Chicago Police had set a four block perimeter all around the fire building preventing any closeups of the scene. Staging is at 22nd and Western I believe. Traffic was really bad as one could have guessed. Here are some shots of the header and Engine 113 which was screaming down 22nd Street. Keep up the good work on the site guys!

From,

Drew Gresik

Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12 large smoke header in the sky

The header as seen from Berwyn. Drew Gresik photo

Heavy smoke seen from nearby. Drew Gresik photo

Large header as seen while driving to the fire. Drew Gresik photo

Chicago Engien 113 at the Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12

Engine 113 nearing the scene of the 4-11 Alarm fire on Deember 29, 2012. Drew Gresik photo

Flames and heavy smoke seen from several blocks away. Drew Gresik photo

This from Steve Redick:

Chicago 2444 w 21st St today…Mill Constructed furniture warehouse…a quick photo and a link to my video with radio traffic. Lot’s more to come…stay tuned…..

massive fire and heavy smoke at the Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street 12-29-12

Firestorm conditions with heavy wind, intense flames and thick smoke in Sector 1 of the 4-11 Alarm fire at 2444 W. 21st Street in Chicago. Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick video:

This from Dave Weaver:

Anatomy of the 4-11: 13:08 E23 looking for rubbish 2500 W. Cullerton St. / Full Still b/o Main FAO for 2444 W. 21st St. » 13:13 Still & Box Alarm b/o Batt 4 for 3 story 200×100 smoke on 2nd fl and heavy smoke from several 1st fl windows » 13:20 2-11 Alarm b/o 2-2-1 reports heavy fire throughout 3 story warehouse 200×150 » Companies go defensive » Batt 2 requests CTA Pink Line be shut down » 13:31 2-2-1 requests additional TL and reserve snorkel » Corrected size-up by 2-2-1 is at least 300×150 » 13:38 3-11 Alarm b/o 2-1-28 plus 2 additional TLs » 13:45 4-11 Alarm / EMS Plan 1 / Level 1 HazMat b/o 2-1-28 » 13:58 2-7-1/Batt 4 4 master streams on West side of building making little progress » 14:00 EMS Plan 1 secured b/o 2-1-28 » 14:04 2-1-3 in command / All officers switch to Ch 5 Command » 14:30 2-7-1/2-1-3 11 master streams working, gas company digging in Sector 1 to shut off main, 1 line to sprinkler system in Sector 4

Radio traffic:

Part 1 www.justin.tv/radioman911/b/352277818

Part 2 www.justin.tv/radioman911/b/352275440

Part 3 www.justin.tv/radioman911/b/352272510

Dave Weaver video: