Apparatus images from Tim Olk from the 2-11 Alarm fire and Haz Mat Box in Cary
Posts Tagged MABAS Division 5 Air Unit
The Gurnee Fire Department received calls from motorists driving on Grand Avenue reporting smoke coming from the Vista Hotel at 6161 W. Grand Avenue at roughly 6:45PM on Tuesday. The hotel which previously was a Holiday Inn was closed and currently undergoing renovation. When the first companies arrived, they found heavy smoke and fire visible in the ballroom section of the complex, which is separated from the three-floor building with guest rooms by a foyer and open lobby area. Engine 1322 advanced a line through the main entrance in an effort to prevent the fire from moving into the adjacent lobby. The encountered intense heat and heavy fire which was fueled in part by the ballroom tables and chairs that were being stored in one area. They backed out and companies went defensive.
The alarm was upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm within 15 minutes followed by a 2nd alarm shortly thereafter. Approximately 45 minutes into the fire, the decision was made to upgrade to a 5th alarm.
Two tower ladders, one from Gurnee and the other from Round Lake worked in the ‘A’ sector in front of the building and Gurnee Engine 1321 was on the side supporting hand lines and a deck gun.
Long lead-outs across Grand Avenue forced the road to be closed as Mundelein and Beach Park engines found hydrants on the opposite side of the street. The fire was contained to the ballroom structure which was destroyed plus minor extension into the lobby area. In all, there were 23 departments represented at the scene representing the majority of Lake County Division 4 departments plus others from Divisions 3 and 5. The list includes Round Lake, Antioch, Fox Lake, Mundelein, Beach Park, Pleasant Prairie (WI), Libertyville, Newport, Zion, Waukegan, Deerfield, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Lake Zurich, Spring Grove, Long Grove, Countryside, Great Lakes, Lake Forest, Lake Villa, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Highland Park, Wauconda, plus the MABAS Division 5 Air Unit, and the MESS Canteen.
Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk went to the fire and submitted several images. Larry has a large gallery which will be accessible HERE and Tim has a large gallery that is building HERE. larry will also have a video to post after getting some sleep.
There is a brief article HERE about the fire as well as HERE and HERE.