Larry Shapiro

All posts tagged Larry Shapiro

4-Alarm fire in Rolling Meadows, IL May 25, 2009

Posted by firescenesadmin on October 4, 2013
Posted in: Fire photos, Fire Scene Video, PREVIOUS. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

The Town of Rolling Meadows is located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and had two unusually memorable fires several weeks apart in May of 2009. Within two miles of each other, they had a 3-Alarm and then a 4-Alarm fire in two different three-story condominium buildings.

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

The fire shown here was the second and occurred on May 25th of that year at 5200 Carriageway Drive. The fire was in a third floor storage room adjacent to the center stairway behind a mansard roof. Moderate smoke was showing on arrival, but as the fire took hold of the attic space and was fanned by high winds, it grew quickly and vented through the roof.

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

Companies made an interior attack with lines taken in through third floor balconies, but they were chased out by the fire overhead which was then hit from the outside. Some residents were evacuated off of balconies. The fire was reported  around 11:15AM.

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Larry Shapiro photo

There is a gallery with many more fire scene photos.

2-Alarm fire in Deer Park, IL 10-3-13

Posted by firescenesadmin on October 3, 2013
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, Fire Scene Video, NEW. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

At roughly 5:30AM on Thursday, a citizen reported a house on fire at 21660 Rainbow Road in Deer Park, IL. The Lake Zurich Fire Department, which provides coverage for Deer Park, responded along with mutual aid companies from several surrounding fire departments. On arrival, they found fire through the roof of a large, modern, mansion which has been vacant and for sale for several years.

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

The neighborhood is without fire hydrants, so the second engine dropped a portable tank while another engine dropped LDH to the main road where water tankers (tenders) would shuttle through and dump into a pair of portable tanks.

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

Fire damage was contained to the roof and attic area of origin, though the interior sustained a fair amount of smoke and water damage.

Lake Zurich Fire Department fights house fire in Deer Park IL

Larry Shapiro photo

There is a gallery with more images.

Chicago 2-11 Alarm fire 9-25-13

Posted by firescenesadmin on September 25, 2013
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, Fire Scene Video, NEW. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment
Chicago Fire Department

Heavy smoke is forced out of the building by the high-pressure mobile ventilation unit. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago companies were called for smoke in the building at 1034 S. Kostner Avenue. The address consists of a five-story building undergoing renovation with an attached one-story section to the rear. Workers were attempting to remove large tanks from the basement that were used by previous occupants. One tank, which contained a glue, ignited as it was being disconnected. As thick black smoke filled the building, all companies were ordered out and the alarm was upgraded to the extra alarm.

Chicago Fire Department

Chicago’s Battalion 4 after working inside the building. Larry Shapiro

Chicago Fire Department

Smoke is visible escaping from multiple sources. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department

Thick smoke at the opposite end of the building. Larry Shapiro photo

A special request was made for the mobile ventilation unit that was setup to force the smoke out of the building.

Chicago Fire Department

Chicago’s reserve squad as lettered for the Chicago Fire tv show was in service today.. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department

Chicago’s Mobile Ventilation Unit 5-2-3. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department

One of many firefighters at the scene. Larry Shapiro photo

There is a gallery with many more images from the fire scene.

 

2-Alarm fire in South Barrington, IL July 9, 2013

Posted by firescenesadmin on September 24, 2013
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, Fire Scene Video, PREVIOUS. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

One of the larger fires the occurred in the northwest Chicago suburbs this summer was in South Barrington on July 9th. I made it to the scene about 20 minutes after the initial alarm.

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

Units were called to the scene and found smoke and fire from the roof. One company initially made an interior attack but was forced to retreat due to some sort of explosion (possibly a smoke explosion) which blew out the front door as a second crew was getting ready to go inside.  The alarm was upgraded to a box alarm and the attack went defensive. The house is located on a dead end street with no hydrants.

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

Barrington Engine 2, the first engine on  the scene, went into the driveway. Palatine Rural Tanker 36 arrived soon after and backed into the driveway to nurse Engine 2 until the tanker shuttle could be setup. One portable tank was dropped in front of Tanker 36 and two were dropped near Barrington Engine 1 just past the house.

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

The alarm was upgraded to a 2nd Alarm for tenders after it became apparent that more units were needed to maintain a constant water supply. Most tankers each made at least four runs  to refill and dump. Three portable tanks were dropped and tied together to provide for a quicker turnaround.

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

South Barrington house fire July 9, 2013

Larry Shapiro photo

There is a gallery with many more images.

Oklahoma City house fire June 10, 2010

Posted by firescenesadmin on September 21, 2013
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, PREVIOUS. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

I was riding with Oklahoma City companies when they were dispatched for a reported fire on the second floor of a commercial building. The address represented a frame dwelling that had been subdivided into two separate units, which classified it as commercial. The upper unit had one rear entry which was blocked by fire, and a neighbor reported seeing the resident at the window in the ‘B’ sector or side 2.

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

The scene on arrival with heavy fire in the rear as companies setup for a rescue on side 2. Larry Shapiro photo

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

A line is stretched as fire vents from side 4. Larry Shapiro photo

While an engine company stretched to the rear and attacked the fire, the truck crew along with another engine company went to work to attempt a rescue from the bedroom window.

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

A fireman takes out the second floor window. Larry Shapiro photo

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

Heavy smoke vents from the window. Larry Shapiro photo

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

Larry Shapiro photo

As the photos show, the room was heavily charged with smoke. After taking out the windows, the crew was unsure of the integrity of the floor because when they tried to sound it from the window they were unsuccessful at first.

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

A fireman attempts to search for the victim and checks the integrity of the floor before entering the room. Larry Shapiro photo

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

The first fireman enters the room. Larry Shapiro photo

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

A second firemen tries to assist with the victim. Larry Shapiro photo

As it turns out, the window was not built to code and the ledge was over a foot higher than it should have been. The occupant had no chance of escaping through this window, and was overcome by the noxious smoke.

Oklahoma City Fire Department fights house fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Here is a link to more images from this incident.

Southern California wildfire November 15, 2008 (part 1)

Posted by firescenesadmin on September 17, 2013
Posted in: Fire photos, PREVIOUS. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 comments

In November of 2008, I had the good fortune to be able to travel to southern California during a period of wildland and urban interface fires. Over the course of two days, there were a series of three different fires that occurred in near proximity to each other. They were dubbed the Brea, Yorba Linda, and Carbon Canyon fires in Orange County. As the winds moved the fires, the boundaries of each became blurred, and they expanded into each other. This new combination of the fires was named the Freeway Complex Fire … also at some point the Triangle Complex Fire.

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Images here are from what was originally the Brea fire, shot at the end of a cul-de-sac where two engine companies had taken defensive positions to protect the homes on this block from the fire that was traveling along the ridge line. One engine was from Brea and the other was Santa Ana. There were homes in a canyon behind this area that was too dangerous for companies to enter, and subsequently those homes were destroyed.

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

Freeway Complex Fire photos

Larry Shapiro photo

A gallery with many more images.