Posts Tagged roofers working before massive fire

Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire 11-15-13 (pt4)

CBS Chicago has a followup article on Friday’s 4-11 Alarm fire at 3106 W. Peterson Avenue.

Authorities continued searching Saturday for the roofers who were using propane torches before a raging fire broke out in a Northwest Side strip mall and destroyed three businesses the day before.

The Chicago Police Department’s Bomb and Arson Unit is looking into the matter but is not treating the incident as a criminal investigation, police told the Chicago Sun-Times. Authorities do not believe the roofers, who fled the scene, had malicious intent as they did work on the roof above the For Eyes optical store, in the 3100 block of West Peterson Avenue. “We have not been able to interview them [roofers] yet,” Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said Saturday, explaining that police had since taken over the probe into what started the fire in the strip mall.

Feras Dajani, 34, was inside his family-owned furniture store about 4 p.m. Friday with about two other customers when he noticed the flames and smoke coming from the roof. Then, after rushing out, he watched not just his store, Mid-America Furniture, but the neighboring For Eyes and an American Mattress obliterated by a raging fire.

A firewall between American Mattress and a Supercuts stopped the roaring fire from spreading any further, officials said.

After two hours, the fire was extinguished, as dozens watched. Traffic was deadlocked for miles as 207 firefighters from 61 units responded to the blaze.

“They couldn’t fight it (inside the business). They fought it externally,” Langford said of the firefighters’ efforts.

All that was left besides the charred businesses was a flood of water from the large fire response.

thanks Dan

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire, 11-15-13 (pt 4)

Video by Larry Shapiro of the 4-11 Alarm Fire on Friday at 3106 W. Peterson Avenue in Chicago.

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire 11-15-13 (pt2)

This from Larry Shapiro:

I took in the 4-11 yesterday at Peterson & Lincoln. Was on the highway when they dispatched the still alarm and had a hunch it would be worthwhile to head that way. The Box Alarm was about the time of the first image here (through the windshield) and the 2-11 was as I jumped out of the car in traffic half a block away. My wife, being the good sport that she is, parked the car and sat.

Engine 71 had a deck gun going in Sector 4 on Albany and I just missed Truck 56 with their Spartan ladder to the 1-4 roof. It was backing out as I got to that side … was hoping to see it up and working for two reasons. First, I’ve yet to photograph one of these aerials at a working fire, and second was the fact that the last fire I remember at this center, a Still & Box Alarm, was the day before they were to turn in their Seagrave to pickup the Spartan.

Eventually, 71 had to move as the electric transformer on the 3-4 corner exploded violently from the massive fire storm that was active where they were working.

A third tower ladder was added to the alarm as were two additional truck companies. The fire crossed one firewall on the eastern edge of the center and was basically stopped at the next one between the mattress store and hair shop.

I am working a a video which will post when it’s completed.

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

View from the west on Peterson, just after the Box was requested. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

A shot from across Peterson at Lincoln. Engine 71 facing heavy fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

An early view just after the 2-11 upgrade. Engine 71 facing heavy fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores

Smoke escapes from everywhere on the roof which is filled with roofing materials. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores

Squad 2A waits for water. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

Engine 71 on Albany in Sector 4. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores. Larry Shapiro photo

Albany was blanketed in smoke. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

Engine 71 facing heavy fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

Tower Ladder 23 setting up at the 1-4 corner, at Peterson & Albany. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

Fire consumes the fourth occupancy. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

Massive smoke and flames on the east leg of the strip center. Engine 71 facing heavy fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

One of multiple master streams. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

Big fire load in the mattress store. Larry Shapiro photo

Massive 4-alarm fire on Chicago's north side destroys strip center and 5 stores.

Fire up against the wall opposite of the hair cutting shop. Larry Shapiro photo

An extensive gallery with over 200 images can be viewed HERE.

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