firemen fight night fire in snow

Steve Redick and Dan Shevlin took in a 2-11 Alarm fire sunday night at 5601 W Irving Park in Chicago, having to contend with blowing snow and blistery cold conditions.

This was January 26, 5601 Irving park Rd. We were headed for extreme sub zero cold and high winds, the temps were single digits and falling, and the wind was kicking up as the fire progressed. The fire apparently originated in the first floor Mexican restaurant, and spread rapidly through the building and into the cockloft. As I was on the way I heard the roof guys report fire and smoke from the vent holes and that was pretty early in the job.

Photography was challenging as when I arrived there were some pretty good snow conditions, so most of the images had to be available light. The sodium vapor streetlamps were plenty bright but color correcting all the images was quite the chore. Overall I was happy with many of the images, and I always like gritty bad weather type operations.

Steve Redick

From the Chicago Tribune:

An extra-alarm fire in Portage Park left two people injured Sunday night.

The fire started after 8 p.m. in a restaurant on the first floor of a two-story building that has apartments on the second floor. Crews remained at the scene until after 11 p.m.

The two people injured suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to Our Lady of the Resurrection Hospital from the fire, at the corner of Central Avenue and Irving Park Road.

Police said the building was a total loss and everyone who lived there went to stay with relatives.

No firefighters were injured.