This from Eric Haak:
At 1715 hrs Saturday afternoon, the Riverside Fire Department had a working fire in an apartment building at 2916 S. Harlem. Companies arrived to fire blowing out the first floor windows of a two-unit apartment. The fire was contained to the first floor unit and was quickly brought under control.
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Tim Olk submitted a few images from a fire this morning at 4030 Prescott in Lyons.
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
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
Jul 24
From Steve Redick:
Some nice old shots of Lyons back in the 80s … those ALF 700s were really neat old rigs … I remember the Oshkosh Pierce “modern” rig had the pump panel on the officer’s side to match the ALFs …
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Apr 28
This from Erik Haak:
At 1950hrs on Saturday, April 27th, the McCook Fire Department was paged out to the report of an explosion occurring at a metal grinding company at 4828 S. Lawndale. First arriving companies confirmed smoke showing from the A and D sides at 1954hrs and elevated the response to a full still. The fire was contained in the 125 x 325 1-story rear section of the complex which included several additions that were not involved. At 2012hrs, command pulled MABAS Division 10 Box #14-01 after companies reported heavy smoke conditions in the interior. Several aerials were used to combat the slow burning fire that had melted through fiberglass portions of the roof. Riverside Truck 1629 operated from the northeast corner of the building and within the complex’s fenced-in lot. It’s aerial can be seen raised in several of the photos. Brookfield Truck 419 operated an aerial from the southeast corner and was set up on Lawndale. Bedford Park Truck 705 operated a stream from inside the complex on the south side of the building. Pleasantview Truck 1519 operated a master stream from the northwest corner of the complex and was set up on Clyde Terrace. Tri-State Truck 529 was set up off of the Joliet Road side of the building but never raised their aerial. Lyons Squad 1316 lit up the east side of the building where most of the fireground activity occurred. McCook Engine 1416 can also be seen supplying water to Riverside’s Truck as well as several handlines. Images pictured were taken approximately one hour into the incident.
Bedford Park FD Snorkel. Erik Haak photo
Brookfield FD Truck 419. Erik Haak photo
Lyons Squad 1316. Erik Haak photo
McCook Engine 1416. Erik Haak photo
Pleasantview Truc 1519. Erik Haak photo
The Chicago Tribune has an article describing the efforts of a police officer in Lyons who is responsible for getting residents safely out of an apartment building that was on fire:
A veteran police officer in west suburban Lyons spotted a building on fire early this morning and rushed inside, alerting police and fire dispatchers and then leading a man and child to safety before being overcome by smoke, officials said.
Minutes later, a woman trapped on the second floor dropped a toddler into the arms of police officers and firefighters. The woman was brought down on a ladder, Lyons Police Commander Brian Kuratko said.
“I just wanted to make sure she was safe,” said the toddler’s mother, Mary Jones. “So I just hurried up and gave her to the police so she would get out of the building. . .I knew if I would have opened the door, like the fire would have just been blazing, so I went back to the window.”
thanks Chris
At 9:30AM, Tim Olk tells us that:
The Lyons Fire Department is on the scene of an open 60psi gas feeder line that is burning at 43rd Street and 1St Street. Companies were returning from a fire in Riverside and saw an arcing wire … Bedford Park has a tower ladder on-scene and they are waiting for gas company crews to mitigate the situation.
He submitted these photos
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Josh Boyajian submitted the following:
Brookfield had a basement fire Friday afternoon at 4306 Elm Ave. Here are some pictures I took
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Three new mobile ventilation units from Tempest Technology have been delivered to serve area MABAS divisions. They will be assigned to
Each identical unit features a Ford F550 chassis and the Tempest MVU-125 Lightweight Unit.
One of the new Mobile Ventilation Units built by Darley with a Tempest fan. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
A 2011 Ford F550/Darley/Tempest Mobile Ventilation Unit for MABAS Division 27. Tim Olk photo
A rear shot showing the Tempest MVU-125 Lightweight Unit with bodywork by Darley. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
Another shot of the unit for MABAS Division 10. Tim Olk photo
Three new Mobile Ventilation Units which will be distributed to MABAS Divisions 1, 10, and 27. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo
Sep 4
The Chicago Tribune reports that:
A U.S. Postal worker at the Lyons post office made a shocking discovery Saturday morning.
In a broken envelope, Mark Thompson could see what looked like a half-stick of dynamite, a bullet and white powder under a stack of packages and other mail.
Lyons Fire officials said the suspicious package was found at the west suburban post office, 7836 W. Ogden Ave., about 8:11 a.m. and officials activated a hazardous materials response.
The post office was evacuated as officials from the Cook County Bomb Squad responded along with several fire departments, according to Lyons police officials.
Tim Olk went to the scene and submitted several images.
Hazmat technicians from MABAS Division 10 assemble near the hazmat squad to get the necessary equipment for entering the building. Tim Olk photo
A briefing is conducted to discuss how the hazmat technicians will enter the building to examine and retrieve the package. Tim Olk photo
Tow hazmat technicians exit the building. They are fully encapsulated in protective suits due to the unknown nature of the substance inside the building. Tim Olk photo
Two firefighters from Bedford Park in basic protective gear stand outside the 'hot zone' to assist the entry team members. Tim Olk photo
Lyons Squad 1312 is on a hydrant supplying water for companies working the scene. Tim Olk photo
The Pleasantview rehab unit responded to the scene to assist firefighters. Tim Olk photo
Read the entire Tribune article HERE.
Tim has a large gallery with additional images HERE.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
