On 11-21-23 Chicago Engine 91 landed at 2701 N Pulaski with a fire in a 1-story warehouse. After about 15 minutes, Battalion 7 pulled all companies out, pulled a box, and went defensive. I arrived about 25 minutes into this fire. Engines 91, 76, 7, 69, 56, 43, 68 from what I saw were all pumping handlines and supplying aerial master streams to Tower Ladders 23, 14, 21, and Squad 2. The entire gallery is HERE.
Just before sunrise on Thanksgiving morning, a fire broke out in the former Wing Hoe restaurant located in Chicago’s 9th Battalion. The structure was built as a private residence in 1913 and had been the Wing Hoe since 1971. It was currently vacant and scheduled for demolition. Companies had been drilling in the structure as recently as the day before. The building was a 2.5-story brick with a basement where the fire appeared to originate. Engine Company 83 made a valiant effort to get a line on it before it advanced, but with holes in the floor and being heavily charged with smoke, the decision was made to transition to a defensive attack.
I arrived as the box was being pulled and found very heavy smoke emanating from the entire structure. Engine Company 59 made entry from a safe POV through a rear door that accessed the basement and made some headway there but the fire extension was already advanced. A Snorkel, tower ladder, two RAMs, and several hand lines were used to bring this job under control.
Eric Haak
Naugatuck, CT multiple alarm factory fire
09/25/23 Naugatuck, CT – Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke issuing from a large, two-story mill building and companies immediately went defensive. Additional alarms were transmitted bringing surrounding towns to the scene. Firefighters had trouble throughout the firefight due to a lack of hydrants and water in the area. Access was also troublesome due to narrow roadways and railroad tracks fronting the building. Three aerials and multiple master streams operated to bring the fire under control in three hours. At the height of the fire, the number-one side wall collapsed into the street causing train traffic to be briefly halted. The cause of the fire is under investigation. An emergency demolition was ordered due to the damage sustained.
Glenn Duda
NAUGATUCK, CT – At approximately 6:10pm on September 25, 2023, the Naugatuck Fire Department was dispatched to the old Lewis Engineering building at 238 Water Street for a building fire. First companies on scene found a vacant, two-story mill building already well-involved. A defensive attack was called and no members were sent inside. Mutual aid was called from several towns including Waterbury, Beacon Falls, Middlebury, and Prospect.
House fire on Lockner in Plainfield, IL
East Granby, CT had a 3-Alarm fire on arrival for a house at 195 N. Main St engulfed by flames on 7/16/23 at 23:02. The family dog woke the residents up. This was the second multi-alarm of fire of the day for them, a department that does about 250 calls a year.
Patrick Dooley
Meriden 6th alarm 169 Pratt St. building fire
05/05/23 Meriden, CT – Firefighters from the Pratt St. firehouse, only several block away, found a large factory building with heavy smoke and fire showing from the rear. The building was partially vacant at the time. Firefighters did a quick search and found one employee in the building and assisted him to safety before a second alarm was transmitted. Companies then went defensive. Multiple additional alarms were transmitted rapidly as the fire quickly extended throughout the building. The additional alarms brought companies from as far away as Hartford and Hamden to the scene. The fire took about two hours to bring under control. Companies remained on the scene for a fire watch throughout the night. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Meriden and State Fire Marshal’s office.
Glenn Duda, Allhandsworking.com
