The following photos were taken on Thursday, April 5, 2012 in the 4800 block of South Ashland in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood.  All of the photos shown except for the image of the Tower Ladder were taken within the first ten minutes of the first companies arriving on scene.

Eric Haak photo

As you can see, the building was heavily involved by the time companies arrived.  The fire was started by an electrical issue that ignited combustible materials on the second floor of a used appliance store. I was on my way home after work and was at 51st and Damen when the first due engine reported the working fire.

Eric Haak photo

A truck company (don’t remember which one) taking 49th street reported it was a garage and that is what it looked like from the alley.  I headed that direction thinking it wasn’t going to be much, but before I could park my car they were calling for a Still & Box.

Eric Haak photo

The original fire building was a 2.5-story, 20 x 100 ordinary commercial with a wood frame peak roof.  This building had an attached garage for unloading and storage.  Companies had to cut through a steel door in order to gain access to the garage section, but it wasn’t long after this that the attic became fully involved.

Eric Haak photo

One company used a ladder to get a line up in a desperate effort to protect the exposure building to the south, but the fire had made too much headway and would eventually take this building which also had a wood frame peak roof.

Eric Haak photo

Engines 123 and 49 both took sector 1 and set up hand lines. Engine 39 took a position in the alley and worked a deck gun from that position.  Tower Ladder 39 also took position in sector 1.  Then Lieutenant Herbert “Herbie” Johnson of Tower Ladder 39 is seen working with his company to set up the Tower in the above image.

Eric Haak photo

Later that same year Captain Johnson would tragically lose his life battling a blaze less than a mile from this incident.  Eventually, Tower Ladder 54 was also set up in sector 1 as well.  Engines 116 and 65 were also flowing water at this incident.  Squad 5A did set up in the alley, but things were very tight and there was no way to get a good shot of it working this incident.