Fire photos

More images from Steve Redick from Chicago’s 4-11 Alarm fire on September 11, 2013.

Took a while and a several block walk to work our way around to the western portion of the complex. Had to climb an embankment and was surprised to see heavy smoke pushing from about another 200-foot section of building. Fire had complete possession and was coming through the roof. Was able to stay for a bit and get some interesting shots till the radiant heat drove us away. Never did get any real water into this area for quite some time … very difficult access and water problems. Some nice images of DDC1, T52 and 65 working in this area …

Chicago Fire Department

Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department

Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department

Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department

Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department

Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department

Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department

Steve Redick photo

Here is a link to a gallery with many ore images.

Images from Eric Haak of another huge fire in Chicago that occurred September 24, 2007.

At about 1630hrs on September 24th, 2007, companies in the 23rd Battalion on Chicago’s southeast side responded to 91st and South Commercial Avenue for the report of a structure fire.  First companies reported smoke from the roof of a 125 x 100 truss roof commercial clothing store.  The store was open at the time, but all patrons were able to self evacuate without any issues.

The fire was started by roofers.  The building was an oddly built structure as it was one story in sector 1 but dropped below ground level in sector 3 for a height of about 3 stories.  I remember that this fire spread quickly and that Battalion 23 ordered a frantic emergency evacuation from the roof just before I got on scene.  This fire featured one of my favorite rig shots I’ve ever captured as Engine 81 was parked right on the corner and had their deck gun working a heavily involved storefront.

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

Eric Haak photo

Eventually the roof did collapse and part of the wall in sector 1 fell into the street.  The second photo shows then Commissioner Raymond Orozco at the command post.  He is also seen descending Tower Ladder 37 after getting an aerial vantage point of the incident’s progress.

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

Eric Haak photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

Eric Haak photo

 

Tower Ladder 37, Engine 72 and Squad 5a were set up in sector 2.  Engine 81 and Tower Ladder 34 were set up in the intersection at the sector 1/2 corner.  Truck 49 worked a line from their area further north on Commercial in Sector 1, and Engine 46 worked their deck gun slightly north of that position in sector 1.  Engine 47 worked their deck gun from the alley off the sector 3/4 corner.

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

Eric Haak photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

Eric Haak photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

Eric Haak photo

Dan Shevlin submitted the following from a 4-Alarm fire in Stone Park, IL on May 28, 2013

May/2013 Stone Park, Illinois . Stone Park is a western suburb of Chicago . In the mid morning hours Stone Park reported a fire in 50 x 100 supermarket . The fire quickly spread throughout the market and into apartments situated on the south side of the building . 4 alarms & firefighters from all over the western suburbs extinguished the fire. 

Stone Park Fire Department

Dan Shevlin photo

Stone Park Fire Department

Dan Shevlin photo

Stone Park Fire Department

Dan Shevlin photo

Stone Park Fire Department

Dan Shevlin photo

Stone Park Fire Department

Dan Shevlin photo

 

John Tulipano from Chicago’s western suburbs submitted images from a fire that occurred July 4, 1991 in Maywood, IL

This fire in Maywood, IL was on July 4th, 1991. It was a vacant, 1-sty building 150×200 with a bow-string truss roof. This was the former Allstar Pontiac car dealership located at 200 Roosevelt Road.

Here is rundown

  • 10:30 Still – Maywood Eng 506, 507, Trk 502, and Broadview Eng 215

  • 10:35 Box 300 – Melrose Park Eng 707 C/Q

  • 10:40 2nd alarm  – Melrose Park Eng 707, Hillside TL403

  • 10:45 3rd alarm – Bellwood Eng 603, Westchester Trk 315

  • 13:00 struck out

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Steve Roth of 911Photography in south central Pennsylvania submitted the following images and description from a fire in the Borough of New Oxford, PA on February 10, 2013

United Hook & Ladder Fire Department

Steve Roth photo

At approximately 01:50 hours, Box Alarm 33-13 was alerted for a house fire with entrapment at 115 Lincoln Way East, in the Borough of New Oxford. Chief 33 responded and was informed that the police department was on-scene with heavy smoke showing. He requested the working fire and then struck the 2nd Alarm upon arrival for heavy fire from the rear of a two-story, brick structure with exposures in very close proximity.

United Hook & Ladder Fire Department

Steve Roth photo

United Hook & Ladder Fire Department

Steve Roth photo

 

The chief advised incoming units there were live arching power lines on the ground to the rear of the building. Engine 33-1 arrived, laying a five inch supply line, while Truck 33 took position on side Alpha, throwing ground ladders and then the stick to the roof. Engine 33-2 arrived to the rear of the building, advancing hand lines to the rear burning porch.

United Hook & Ladder Fire Department

Seve Roth photo

United Hook & Ladder Fire Department

Steve Roth photo

Heavy smoke and fire conditions met interior companies at the bathroom and kitchen area. At the 42-minute mark, a decision was made to evacuate the building. Crews were later sent back in to open the walls and ceilings while water and foam was used to get in the deep seated areas of fire. The fire was placed under control sometime around 0400. Eleven people were left homeless.

United Hook & Ladder Fire Department

Steve Roth photo

Many companies assisted on scene and several departments completed station transfers.

Click here to view a gallery with more images.

Steve Redick has created a video with radio traffic from Chicago’s 4-11 Alarm fire on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.

Sept 11, 3710 S California

Large industrial building, several hundred feet long, mainly loaded with pallets. very difficult access, embankments, trucking yards, fences, grade level differences and poor water supply and many dead end mains. I arrived between the 2-11 and 3-11 … The original portion of the building was consumed and there were still some pallets burning … squad 1 and TL54 had been repositioned and it seemed like the incident was winding down …

From Eric Haak, early images from a massive fire at the Fox Lumber Company in Alsip, IL on May 13, 2007.

 

Fox Lumber Company fire in Alsip IL

Eric Haak photo

Here are some photos of the first companies leading out at a 5-11 alarm fire in Alsip, Illinois on May 13, 2007.  I had just finished shopping at the Ford City Mall which is 5 miles north of the incident location in Chicago’s southwest suburbs.  As I pulled out of the parking lot I noticed what I thought was a small header rising up south of me.  I did not have a scanner with me so I just started heading that way.

Fox Lumber Company fire in Alsip IL

Eric Haak photo

As I approached the header grew rapidly.  As a result of being on Cicero Avenue when the fire initiated, I arrived on scene very quickly.  When I got there, Alsip Truck 2014 had just finished setting up and was the only company on scene flowing water.  The fire at this time was mostly in the the far rear portion of the property and along the fence line on the north side of the yard.

Fox Lumber Company fire in Alsip IL

Eric Haak photo

The photos that you see include the following; Alsip Truck 2014 working when I first walked up, Alsip crews stretching the first hand line, the fire as it looked in the rear of the yard before it had spread to the show room, Oak Lawn company moving their position back as fire began to break through the front of the show room and my favorite apparatus shot I took that day of Hometown’s Engine 466.

Fox Lumber Company fire in Alsip IL

Eric Haak photo

Fox Lumber Company fire in Alsip  IL

Eric Haak photo

As most people that day, I took a lot of pictures and have many more great images of rigs working this incident.  I wanted to include these because they are a little different than most of the standard shots taken that day.  This fire occurred on Mother’s Day and was a massive operation.  The amazing thing was that the day before, Chicago had a massive 4-11 daytime worker at 4150 N. Knox.  I don’t believe the Chicago area has had two fires this large on back-to-back days since.