More photos from the Box Alarm fire in unincorporated Long Grove, 3-1-25
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Posts Tagged port-a-tank
Tim Olk took a drive on Monday to visit the fire scene in Peru, IL. When he went down there, they were over 30 hours into the fire and had requested a 4th Alarm for tankers to the scene. Tim found fires still burning and producing large amounts of smoke throughout many areas of the complex. He took a large amount of photos during the time he was on-scene which will be online in the coming hours. Here are a few samples of what he found in Peru. Earlier coverage of the fire can be found HERE.
A Pierce tower ladder from the Mendota Fire Department works an elevated master stream into one building in the Westclox complex in Peru, IL. Tim Olk photo
Another Pierce tower ladder, this one belonging to the Peru Fire Department, works at an adjacent building. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters direct a hand line into one of the buildings in an effort to extinguish some of the fire that still burns more than day after the fire broke out. Tim Olk photo
A section of the former clock company that has been totally destroyed. Tim Olk photo
An engine from LaSalle pumps water from the porta-tanks that are constantly refilled by one of the many tankers on the scene. Tim Olk photo
A tanker from the Oglesby Fire District takes a turn at the porta-tanks. Tim Olk photo
The water supply officer prepares to send this tanker from the Standard Fire Protection District to dump it's water. Tim Olk photo
A Darley engine from the Dixon Rural Fire District pumps at the fire scene. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters were kept at a distance during the height of the fire due to the intense heat and are just now able to move in and hit all of the remaining fires. Here they douse a dumpster in a loading dock area near several burned trailers. Tim Olk photo
Well over a day after the initial fire was intentionally set, parts of the scene are still shrouded in thick smoke. Tim Olk photo
A Pierce Arrow engine from Peru pumps from another porta-tank set up in a different section of the complex. Tim Olk photo
Tim has a large gallery of images that can be found HERE.
Tiskilwa train derailment
Oct 10
Tim Olk drove to Tiskilwa, IL (124 miles south west of Chicago) on Friday to document the partial derailment of a freight train overnight which was carrying ethanol for corn processor Archer Daniels Midland Co.
From the Chicago Tribune:
A freight train loaded with ethanol crashed and exploded near the village’s northeast side early Friday. Witnesses say the resulting explosions shook them awake before dawn and sent bright orange flames and plumes of smoke into the sky.
The Associated Press reported that:
Each tanker cars generally carries about 29,000 gallons of ethanol, experts said. Twenty-six cars on the 131-car train derailed, including seven to nine loaded with ethanol, according to Mick Burkart, chief operating officer of Iowa Interstate Railroad. The fire prevented officials from immediately getting close enough to the train to determine what caused the accident, Burkart said.
Smoldering tank cars that derailed along a field of corn in Tiskalwa, IL. Tim Olk photo
Tankers from area fire departments carrying several thousand gallons of water are staged near the derailment. One tanker can be seen at the portable tank offloading the water. Tim Olk photo
A deck gun sits in a street where it had been deployed during the night near the burning tank cars. Tim Olk photo
Several tank cars remain on the track as derailed cars are visible in front of them. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters use a deluge gun to cool the remaining smoldering tank cars and dissipate the vapors in the morning. Tim Olk photo
Three portable water tanks are tied together which provided firefighters with up to 6,000 gallons of water in an area without fire hydrants. Tim Olk photo
Tim has a gallery with more images which can be found HERE.
