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All posts for the month December, 2013

Several photographers contributed photos from the scene of a commercial fire in Evanston, IL that destroyed a restaurant and adjacent stores during the early morning hours of December 29, 2013. Upon arrival of the first Evanston units, the alarm was upgraded to a Box Alarm and then to a 2nd Alarm.

Two tractor-drawn aerials and one tower ladder operated elevated master streams in addition to several multi-versals. There was a major structural collapse of one side of the corner building during the defensive attack. One firefighter suffered from an ankle injury during the incident.

(from Steve Redick) Took in this job in the wee hours of Sunday morning. The fire was in the downtown area at Davis and Oak. I arrived just as they were getting water to the Skokie tower ladder. The fire involved two restaurants and a nail salon and threatened some additional similar occupancies. This fire was very noteworthy because it is the only time I can recall two tillered trucks operating at a single fire. Around here tillers are a very rare beast. There was a catastrophic collapse, most likely due to the failure of the truss roof structure, but it was well anticipated and all members were well clear.

Steve

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Tim Olk photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Tim Olk photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Tim Olk photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Jeff Rudolph photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Tim Olk photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Steve Redick photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Tim Olk photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Jeff Rudolph photo

large fire destroys stores in downtown Evanston 12-29-13

Tim Olk photo

More photos can be found at chicagoareafire.com

While units were still on the scene of a structure fire on Poplar Street, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a second structure fire one block away at 301 Edgewood Street. Firefighters at the Poplar Street incident were still performing overhaul and breaking down lines when this fire was dispatched.

Tender 26 was able to leave the Poplar Street incident and drive around the corner while additional units were also responding. Tender 26 found a single-story, block residence fully involved. The 3000-gallon E-One tender is equipped for firefighting operations. Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines to combat the blaze and had the bulk of the fire knocked down within 15 minutes, but were on the scene for two hours.

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Tender 19 supplied water to Tender 26. Three engines responded, but only needed to standby and supply hand tools.  The home was vacant and did not have power connected. Due to the close proximity to the other fire and the suspicious nature of the origin, the Sheriff’s Office and State Police (SLED) Arson Unit were contacted to assist with the investigation. SLED sent two agents to the scene. The building remained standing, but suffered heavy damage.

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Engine 19, Engine 24, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 19, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 2 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander. Engine 1, Engine 5, Engine 13, Medic 9 and Medic 13 were relocated during the incident.

 Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

A Poplar Street home was destroyed in an early morning fire Friday 27-December. At 02:55, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of the house with flames coming out of the windows. Engine 19 arrived minutes later to find the single-story wood-frame residential dwelling fully-involved, with flames 40 feet in the air. An unattached, two-story garage behind the home was threatened. Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines and one 2-1/2 handline to combat the fire. Engine 19 attempted to use a deck gun, but was not effective reaching the building due to trees in the yard. A second alarm was issued 20 minutes into the incident for additional personnel and tenders.

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

The roof over the center of the structure collapsed shortly after arrival. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.  The home was a rental property and was not occupied, however it did have power connected. The building was heavily damaged and almost completely destroyed. The separate garage was not damaged.

While crews were finishing overhaul operations, a second, well-involved structure fire one block from this residence was reported. Tender 26 was able to be freed from this scene, responded to the other fire and began firefighting efforts. Due to the close proximity and the suspicious nature of the fires, the Sheriff’s Office and State Police (SLED) Arson Unit were contacted to assist with the investigation.

Engine 19, Engine 24, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

On the evening of November 6, 2010, fire broke out in the back, second floor bedroom, of this late 1800’s apartment building in Chicago’s old Pilsen neighborhood.  In the days after the fire, family members speculated that the cause was a space heater, although a determined cause was never reported.

The result was the tragic death of a father and his young son.  The 3-year old was found in the same room as the fire’s origin.  The father had run back inside the burning apartment in an attempt to rescue his children and was successful in wrapping his one-year old daughter in a blanket before he succumbed to the smoke.  She was found lying next to him and the fact that her head was wrapped in the blanket probably saved her life.

I arrived to see her being rushed to the ambulance but was unaware of what else had happened.  The father would die several weeks later.  The picture sequence seems out of order but the less smokey images are actually from when I first arrived.  The fire eventually made it’s way into the attic and it was brought under control using an exterior attack from Tower Ladder 5, who was running a spare rig that day.

Chicago firemen battle fatal apartment fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle fatal apartment fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle fatal apartment fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle fatal apartment fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle fatal apartment fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle fatal apartment fire

Eric Haak photo

Christmas morning was a busy one for fire companies in Chicago’s 18th Battalion as they battled 2 still & box alarm fires within hours of each other.  The first was in the 6900 block of South Throop and occurred at about 0730 hrs.  The second occurred less than a mile from the first, on the 6500 block of South Marshfield.  The second fire was dispatched at 1010 hrs.  I arrived about 25 minutes in and smoke was still pouring fairly heavily from the roof.  The 18th Battalion Chief boxed this fire shortly after arrival, reporting a fire in the basement with fire on the first and moving to the second.  The building was a 25 x 60, occupied 2-flat.  4 lines were used, all from Engine 116 which was the only engine flowing water.  The box was struck at 1105 hrs.  10 residents were displaced by this incident.

Eric Haak

 

Chicago firemen battle Christmas day house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle Christmas day house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle Christmas day house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle Christmas day house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle Christmas day house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle Christmas day house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firemen battle Christmas day house fire

Eric Haak photo 

Steve Redick forwarded this video of the 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago on April 29, 2007