At approximately 0605 hrs on Sunday morning (2/12), the Englewood Fire Alarm Office received several calls for a fire at the intersection of 44th and Shields Ave. in Chicago. Engine 50 landed on the scene and confirmed a fire in a 2.5-story vacant frame with exposure to a 1.5-story occupied frame. Two minutes later, the 2nd Battalion reported he had heavy fire in the 2.5-story and requested a Box. The first image below was taken just before Engine 50 opened up with their deck gun which knocked down a lot of the visible fire in the front. There was a lot of fire extension into the occupied exposure and companies made an interior attack on that structure. Eventually Squad 5’s Snorkel and Tower Ladder 39 were brought down to mop up the remaining fire in the original building which was under rehab. In an October, 2015 Google Streets image, the building was a Red-X and appeared to have had a basement fire in it previously. Eric Haak
This fire came in about 1:30 Saturday afternoon (1/28/17). It was in a great old home from the 1800’s at at 4500 S. Ellis in Chicago. I arrived just after it was boxed by the 5th Battalion. It looked like the fire was mostly in the attic area. The exposure was reported as vacant and in poor condition but the fire was held to the original occupied section. Eric Haak
I thought I would share these vintage images from a 3-11 alarm on May 14, 2000. The fire was at 71st and Wabash in Chicago and the images were scanned from original negatives that I own. The images were taken by a Sun-Times photographer but I do not have a name. They were in very poor shape and I had to spend a lot of time editing out the scratches, however you can see that I did not get to all of them yet. Eric Haak
At 0715 hrs this morning (1/8), the Chicago Fire Department was called to 4734 W. Huron for a fire in a 20×70, 2.5-sty frame apartment building. Engine 117 landed less than a minute after being dispatched and confirmed they had a fire. Battalion 18 arrived on scene moments later and reported back porches that had extended into the first and second floor of the original fire building with the “D” side exposure also involved and asked for a still & box. The alarm would eventually be elevated to a 2-11. Temperatures were once again in the single digits this morning. Eric Haak
Shortly before 0700 hrs on Friday morning (1/6), Chicago’s 24th Battalion had a working fire in a 2-story frame home on the 13400 block of South Carondolet Ave. The fire appeared to be blowing out of the 1st floor rear windows and a door on the “D” side. This side had very limited access and was separated from a commercial building by only a couple feet. The hydrant directly in front of the home was not working (unknown if frozen or not) and Engine 97 secured water by using a hydrant further down the block on 134th Street. Engine 104 was in a spare. All of the occupants, including the family dog, made it out of the home safely. Eric Haak
Firefighters in Chicago’s 5th Battalion rung in the New Year by battling this early morning basement blaze on the 6300 block of South Evans. Companies made an initial interior push before being given orders to evacuate the structure. At that time, the truck was moved from the front of the building and Squad 5’s Snorkel took a position in sector A. With the use of the Snorkel and several hand lines, the fire was brought under control and companies were eventually allowed back in to mop up. The large, frame residence had been vacant for several years. I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous 2017! Eric Haak
At 0700 hrs on Saturday morning (12/31), companies in Chicago’s 6th Battalion were called to this vacant apartment building at 5149 S. Honore Ave. Engine 123 landed with heavy fire in the rear porches and knocked it down with a hand line from the exterior, prevented it from spreading to the occupied building next store. Although there was some extension into the structure, this was held pretty much in check with an interior line through the front door after companies forced entry. Another line was run up Tower Ladder 39 which was used in mopping up hot spots in the attic. The fire was mostly out within minutes. Companies remained on the scene for some time with extensive overhaul but from this amateur’s perspective, it looked like a very efficient and successful stop. Eric Haak
