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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heavy smoke seen from nearby. Drew Gresik photo

 

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

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

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

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:

Dave Weaver video:

Apologies to all about the late hour of this post and delay in getting all the information together.