Christmas morning was a busy one for fire companies in Chicago’s 18th Battalion as they battled 2 still & box alarm fires within hours of each other. The first was in the 6900 block of South Throop and occurred at about 0730 hrs. The second occurred less than a mile from the first, on the 6500 block of South Marshfield. The second fire was dispatched at 1010 hrs. I arrived about 25 minutes in and smoke was still pouring fairly heavily from the roof. The 18th Battalion Chief boxed this fire shortly after arrival, reporting a fire in the basement with fire on the first and moving to the second. The building was a 25 x 60, occupied 2-flat. 4 lines were used, all from Engine 116 which was the only engine flowing water. The box was struck at 1105 hrs. 10 residents were displaced by this incident.
Eric Haak