This was an interesting fire. December 1989, a 2-11 at 1705 N Talman. I happened on this in the early stages. Occupants still in the exposure building were just exiting out the back under heavy fire conditions. They lost water for some reason and the back end of the two dwellings really took off. I helped the engineer of 35 make another hydrant down the block after things went sour. After all was said and done I smelled something burning and discovered my knit hat was burning as was my hair from a flying ember!
I was able to take in the big job last Tuesday in Chicago, a 4-11 (actually with all the extra units well over a 5-11 response) at Haddon & Kilbourn. It was a massive structure containing thousands of square feet of flea market type booths, many sealed off with cyclone fencing. There were no real windows, and to make matters worse the entire roof consisted of a concrete parking surface. The area is very industrial and the building backs up to an elevated railroad embankment.
Arriving units reported heavy smoke conditions and could barely see to maneuver the apparatus down the street, and heavy fire was in an area set back from the street, under the parking deck. I arrived about 35 minutes in and observed heavy fire and smoke venting from the inaccessible center portion of the complex. Cars were falling into the fire as the concrete roof deck collapsed. The fire traveled into a massive portion of the building to the north and caused heavy and dangerous smoke conditions, making Division Street impassable. A truck company attempted entry into this section using a searchline and TIC but made little headway due obstructions. Several inline operations were conducted, including two engines driving up on the railroad right of way. The hose wagon performed two massive hose lays along Division Street, one east and one west of the fire building. The new Turret Wagon 6-7-3 was also put to use.The smoke conditions downwind were punishing to the engineers manning their engines as well as members in the tower buckets. The incident lasted many hours and units were on the scene all night long. The scale of the building was so large at least one additional RIT was in place.
Took in a job at 5336 W. Leland Avenue in Chicago, a normally quiet and very congested neighborhood Monday (3/7/16). Radio reports indicated a basement fire extending to all floors in a frame dwelling. Engine 94 was very creative in finding a good spot for access in the rear. From the alley they stretched 4-inch supply line onto the next block. This operation, at least from my perspective, was very effective. Got some nice shots of roof operations as fire was venting through the the back portion of the building. This was contained with handlines in short order.
Park Ridge (IL) firefighters responded to a house fire at 105 Elmore Street Thursday morning 2/18/16. RED Center received a call at 7:43 am reporting a fire with the possibility of two trapped occupants and dispatched the fire immediately as a Code 4 for the working fire. Within minutes a neighbor reported that the residents were out of the house. Park Ridge Battalion 35 arrived and reported heavy fire in the rear with an exposure on each side of the fire unit. Companies made quick work of knocking down the fire and containing the flames. The residents were treated at the scene after inhaling smoke but both refused transport.
During a trip to the city of Detroit in September, we attended this job in an occupied apartment building at Dragoon & Regular. It seemed like a typical quick knock down offensive attack, but a few minutes after we arrived the smoke pushing from the 2nd floor became quite heavy, and the fire was soon through the roof. Conditions were tough as it had been a very hot day and the humidity was extremely high and all the smoke just hung at street level. I got some images of the truck company leaving the roof as the fire was venting right on their heels. Judging by the graffitti on the walls of the building this was probably some sort of gang related arson. At any rate the members took quite a beating on this one. In the video and photos you can see a PPV fan operating at what appears to be the high point of the fire. I believe this unit was used on the other side of the intact firewall in an attempt to keep the smoke and heat from the uninvolved structures. At first it seemed kind of crazy to me but perhaps it had a good effect … may have made conditions more tenable in that exposure.
