Chicago SpartanERV aerial at fire scene

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Shortly before 1530hrs on Wednesday, November 27th, companies in Chicago’s 23rd Battalion were dispatched to the report of a garbage can on fire in the rear of a building on the 8000 Block of South Ellis.  While companies were en route, the Englewood Fire Alarm Office informed Engine 122 that they were getting a Full Still as they were getting reports that the rear of the building had become involved.  Very shortly after that, the alarm was elevated to a Still & Box for the reports of people being trapped on the second floor.  Engine 122 arrived on-scene and reported that they had a fire in the rear of a 3-story, 50 x 65 ordinary, occupied apartment building.

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

This is before any lines were laid and before Engine 72 arrived. Eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

This is also before any lines were laid and before Engine 72 arrived. Eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

The balconies of the exposure are involved. eric Haak photo

Engine 72 positioned itself at the mouth of the alley on 80th Street and led out several lines to sector 3.  The first several images were before any lines were laid and before Engine 72 arrived.  You can see that the balconies of the sector 2 exposure were involved and the volume of fire between these two buildings was very heavy, which led to the 2-11.  The sector 2 exposure was a large 100 x 75 U-shaped courtyard apartment building.  The fire consumed the rear porches of the fire building very quickly and the entire rear of the structure collapsed into the yard.

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

Engine 72 gets the first line operating while a second is stretched. Eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

Back porch collapses into the yard between the building and garage. Eric Haak photo

 

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

Truck 42 with a main to the sector 2 exposure. eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

Engine 82 on the corner of 80th & Ellis. Eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

A 3rd line is brought in from Engine 72. Eric Haak photo

Companies eventually removed both garage doors and fought the remainder of the incident from the rear windows of the garage.  Engine 126 took a hydrant on Dobson Avenue, one block east of the fire and ran two lines through the gangway to the alley.  One of these lines was eventually used from a balcony of the sector 2 exposure in order to get a better POV.  The space available in sector 3 for companies to work in was very limited.  The 2-11 was struck out at 1619 hrs.  One civilian was transported from the scene in good condition.

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

Lines are stretched into the garage. Eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle massive 2-11 alarm fire in apartment building

Venting sector 1 windows on the 3rd floor. Eric Haak photo

I wish I could have gotten more shots from the front with Tower Ladder 34 but the police taped off the entire front of the building and moved everyone off Ellis.  I was only able to get a few shots off before they moved us.  The goofy thing was that not much was happening in the front and the alley was far more dangerous but they never taped that off.  Go figure.

More images can be seen at chicagoareafire.com

At 1412hrs on Sunday, November 24th, companies on Chicago’s south side were dispatched to a report of a structure fire on the 8000 block of South May Street.  Three minutes later, Engine 129 reported they had a fire in the basement of a 30×125, 3.5-story ordinary, occupied apartment building.  At 1420hrs, Battalion 18 reported that he had heavy fire in the basement and 1st floor of the building and he called for a Still & Box which is about the same time the first picture shown in this gallery was taken.  The fire eventually made its way to the second floor.  Besides the apparatus shown in the photos, Engine 54 took a hydrant on Aberdeen Street which is one block to the east and stretched a line through the gangway to sector 3.  The box was struck at 1514hrs and the Red Cross was assisting 11 occupants who were displaced by this fire.

Eric Haak

Chicago firefighters battle smokey blaze

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle smokey blaze

Eric Haak photo

Chicago firefighters battle smokey blaze

Eric Haak photo

Chicago fireman on ladder with massive smoke at fire scene

Eric Haak photo

Chicago fire engine at fire scene

Eric Haak photo

Chicago fire engine at fire scene

Eric Haak photo