A vacant Chamber of Commerce building that had stood as a landmark in west suburban Lyons was heavily damaged by fire overnight, officials said.
The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. in the two-story building at 3901 Joliet Ave., officials said. It was extinguished by 6 a.m.
Fire Chief Gordon Nord told reporters that flames were shooting from first-floor windows when firefighters arrived. “It certainly overpowered us. We pulled everyone out, and went to a defensive attack,” Nord said.
The chief said the building will have to be torn down.
No one was hurt in a hard-fought fire overnight in Lyons, but it appears the blaze did destroy one of the town’s landmarks.
The vacant Lyons Chamber of Commerce building at 3901 Joliet Av. caught fire around 2:30 a.m. The building is a two-story ivory-colored structure built in the 1900s, featuring ornate doorways and castle-like towers.
Though it has stood empty for years, it’s considered a town landmark. Though it still had power, gas service had been disconnected “for some time,” according to Fire Chief Gordon Nord.
It took firefighters nearly four hours to put out the blaze.
“We had heavy fire showing out the first floor windows. We had a lot of heavy fire in the tin ceiling on the first floor; gave us a lot of problem with a lot of voids. It certainly overpowered us. We pulled everyone out, and went to a defensive attack,” Nord said.
The top of one of the turret-like structures on the corners of the building collapsed during the fire.
As of early Friday, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
However, the damage was so severe, the building must come down.
No injuries were reported.
Images from the scene from Brad Bartley
Lyons landmark destroyed by fire. Brad Bartley photo
Lyons landmark destroyed by fire. Brad Bartley photo
Lyons landmark destroyed by fire. Brad Bartley photo
Lyons landmark destroyed by fire. Brad Bartley photo
thanks Dan
