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All posts for the month August, 2014

More images from the 3-11 Alarm fire in Chicago on August 27th. These are from Tim Olk and Josh Boyajian.

night fire scene with lots of smoke

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Tim Olk photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Tim Olk photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Tim Olk photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Tim Olk photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Tim Olk photo

fireman directing a master stream at a huge defensive fire

Josh Boyajian photo

night fire scene with lots of smoke

Josh Boyajian photo

More images can be seen at chi-town fire photos and Tim Olk’s site

Chicago rolled up on fire in the basement of a 100×200, three-story, residential (and vacant) over retail late Wednesday night. The basement was fully charged and companies were pulled out before they could initiate an attack with high-expansion foam.

The fire went to 3 alarms and required companies to stay on the scene for another day. Several area photographers were at the scene and there will be a few posts with images.

These are from Gordon J. Nord, Jr. and Steve Redick.

night fire scene with lots of smoke

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Snorkel at night fire with smoke

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

panoramic image of night fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Images of companies working at 4177 Midway Lane in Glenview (IL) on 8-25 after lightning struck a house during one of several rounds of violent storms that passed through the area. Heavy smoke on arrival prompted an upgrade to a working fire response which brought mutual aid from neighboring Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, and Wilmette units to supplement all of the Glenview companies.

Morton Grove Quint 4 was on the road when the call came in, so instead of going back to quarters and jumping to Squad 4 (which was due) they were told to go right to the scene. Ambulance 4 also came to bring the crew strength to five.

firemen at scene of a house fire

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen vent roof and use thermal imaging camera

Larry Shapiro photo

Pierce fire engine on a hydrant

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen vent roof

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen vent cedar shake roof

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen vent cedar shake roof

Larry Shapiro photo

Wilmette FD Engine 27 E-ONE eMax

Larry Shapiro photo

A gallery with more images is at shapirophotography.net and chicagoareafire.com

The East Chicago Fire Department in Northwest Indiana responded to this structure fire at 1500 hrs on Monday (8/25) afternoon.  The fire building was located at 14741 South Tod Avenue and appeared to be a vacant apartments over bar or restaurant.  The building was about 100 feet deep and the fire eventually consumed most of the frame attic space.  Images in this gallery are taken nearly 3 hours into the incident.

 

American LaFrance fire engine at a fire scene

Eric Haak photo

fireman operates a hose lie

Eric Haak photo

firemen at a fire scene

Eric Haak photo

American LaFrance fire engine at a fire scene

Eric Haak photo

building aftermath from fire

Eric Haak photo

American LaFrance fire engine at a fire scene

Eric Haak photo

American LaFrance heavy rescue at a fire scene

Eric Haak photo

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to formally launch my new web site.  It is still a work in progress and I have a lot to add, but I am satisfied enough at this time to put it out there.  Images from this fire and many other incidents can be seen at http://wcfs.smugmug.com/.  Hope you enjoy.

Three Alarm Fire – Colleton County, SC

Two homes were damaged and one workshop destroyed in an early morning fire that started at 160 Boone Street in the Country Estates Subdivision south of the City of Walterboro (SC) Tuesday morning 26-August. At 01:45, 9-1-1 operators began receiving reports of the fire in a workshop and a home located behind the workshop. Colleton County Fire-Rescue Car 118 arrived to find the 20×40 block work shop fully-involved and a single-story residential dwelling approximately 30% involved.

Engine 1 was directed to a position on Capers Street behind the workshop. Multiple handlines and a deck gun were used in an attempt to extinguish the rapidly spreading fire in the Capers Street home. It appeared the fire originated in the workshop and spread to piles of lumber and wood in the yard. The residence at 189 Capers Street was located approximately 20 feet from the workshop on the lot next door and the fire spread to the attached garage, then extended into the attic. Neighbors had awaken the family at the Capers Street home. An adult male and two teenagers were able to safely exit the house.

A second alarm was requested six minutes after the first fire units arrived, with a third alarm five minutes later. The home on Capers Street had security bars on all of the windows. Firefighters had to remove the bars with a K-12 saw before it was safe to enter the structure. The fire quickly spread through the attic and within seven minutes after arrival was extending from the eaves on all sides of the home. The main house at 160 Boone Street also suffered heat damage to the rear of the house and most items in the back yard were destroyed. A pickup truck parked next to the workshop was also destroyed.

Firefighter-Paramedics worked diligently to contain the Capers Street fire, while other crewmembers protected the exposures on Boone Street and worked to extinguish the workshop fire. A tender shuttle was established for water supply, due to the majority of the subdivision being an unhydranted area.

It took approximately 50 minutes to bring the fires under control. The Capers Street home lost most of the roof and the majority of the fire was contained to the attic, however the remainder of the home suffered heavy damage from drop down fire and water. Many personal items were salvaged. The workshop and pickup truck on Boone Street were completely destroyed, as were several pieces of equipment in the yard. The Boone Street home also suffered heat and fire damage to the back of the house. The fire appeared to have started in or near the electrical panel in the workshop. Fire units were on the scene for over five hours. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family. No injuries were reported.

Engine 1, Engine 4, Engine 5, Engine 17, Engine 19, Engine 24, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 6, Tender 9, Tender 13, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 105, Car 107 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb and Captain Gary Nahrstedt operated the Command Post.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

heavy fire at night

Barry McRoy photo

house fully engulfed in fire

Barry McRoy photo

house fully engulfed in fire

Barry McRoy photo

fire department tender shuttle for rural water supply

Barry McRoy photo

house fully engulfed in fire

Barry McRoy photo

fire department water tenders shuttle water at night

Barry McRoy photo

Here are some photos of the garage fire in Mokena (IL) on 8/24/14. Companies arrived to a fully-involved garage fire with some minor extension to a neighboring house. Here’s the link to more photos: http://codephotography.smugmug.com/Scenes/Mokena/Garage-Fire-82514/i-ztBMhff

 -Code Photography

firemen at fully involved garage fire

Code Photography

garage fully involved in fire

Code Photography

fireman approaches fully involved garage fire

Code Photography

These images are from a trip to Philadelphia at Thanksgiving in 2003. I don’t remember the number of alarms or the location of the incident. I followed the header for almost half an  hour with my family in tow. The images were taken with a small, pocket digital camera.

huge fire in Philadelphia

Larry Shapiro photo

huge fire in Philadelphia

Larry Shapiro photo

huge fire in Philadelphia

Larry Shapiro photo