Evanston Fire Department units responded to reports of smoke coming from the rear of a 3-story building at 1301 Judson Avenue around 2:15 this afternoon. When Evanston Battalion 21 turned down the street and saw the amount of smoke, he immediately upgraded the Code 3 response to a MABAS Box Alarm. The building, at the north east corner of Judson and Dempster, is a multi-unit, u-shaped, three-story building. Fire was in the attic and vented through the roof quickly. After making an interior attack, conditions worsened and all companies were ordered out of the building. A ladder pipe was put to work on the Dempster Street side of the building from Evanston Truck 22. Truck 23 was to the roof in front of the building on Judson. The alarm was upgraded to a 2nd alarm which brought additional companies.

After the attic and roof fire was knocked down, companies went back into the building to hit the remaining fire, conduct the secondary searches, and then begin to overhaul the interior.

In addition to five Evanston engines and their two trucks, mutual aid at the scene consisted of engines from Wilmette and Winnetka, a squad from Morton Grove, and trucks from Skokie and Northfield.

The fire was contained to one side of the structure and did not communicate to the second floor.

Tim Olk and Larry Shapiro were at the scene, both arriving after the fire had been knocked down. Some images and a video from Larry are in this email. Images from Tim should be forthcoming.

Evanston Battalion 21 was the operations chief. Larry Shapiro photo

Area where the fire vented through the roof. Larry Shapiro photo

A view of the structure looking east on Dempster. Larry Shapiro photo

Evanston Engine 24 on a hydrant. Larry Shapiro photo

Evanston Truck 23 in Sector A on Judson. Larry Shapiro photo

The building was on the northeast corner of Judson and Dempster. Larry Shapiro photo

Evanston Truck 22 deployed the ladder pipe after the building was evacuated. Larry Shapiro photo

Evanston Truck 22 alongside the building on Dempster. Larry Shapiro photo

Evanston Engine 23 was on a hydrant near Truck 22. Larry Shapiro photo

View of the interior courtyard. Fire was on the left side in this picture and did not communicate across. Larry Shapiro photo

A view at the roof line showing where the fire burned through the attic. Larry Shapiro photo

A gallery of more images by Larry Shapiro is HERE.

Tags: Evanston Engine 21, Evanston Engine 24, Evanston Fire Department, Evanston Fire Department Battalion Chief Bill Muno, Evanston fire trucks, Evanston Truck 22, Evanston Truck 23, house fire in Evanston, Larry Shapiro, Pierce engine at fire scene, Pierce TDA, tillered aerial at fire scene, tillered ladder truck, Tim Olk