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.

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.

Eric Haak photo

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.

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo