Chicago’s 18th Battalion battled a working fire in a red-X building at 3849 on Flournoy. Chicago Police helicopter ‘PH1’ called it in on the Zone and reported that there was a house on fire and it was really cooking. Engine 95 deck-gunned it on arrival as they had heavy fire showing from the 2, and then companies led out (2) 2.5” lines while performing an exterior attack. A third line was led out as Squad 1’s Snorkel was set up and flowing water in the vacant lot on Side D.
At approximately 0605 hrs on Sunday morning (2/12), the Englewood Fire Alarm Office received several calls for a fire at the intersection of 44th and Shields Ave. in Chicago. Engine 50 landed on the scene and confirmed a fire in a 2.5-story vacant frame with exposure to a 1.5-story occupied frame. Two minutes later, the 2nd Battalion reported he had heavy fire in the 2.5-story and requested a Box. The first image below was taken just before Engine 50 opened up with their deck gun which knocked down a lot of the visible fire in the front. There was a lot of fire extension into the occupied exposure and companies made an interior attack on that structure. Eventually Squad 5’s Snorkel and Tower Ladder 39 were brought down to mop up the remaining fire in the original building which was under rehab. In an October, 2015 Google Streets image, the building was a Red-X and appeared to have had a basement fire in it previously. Eric Haak
Shortly before 0700 hrs on Friday morning (1/6), Chicago’s 24th Battalion had a working fire in a 2-story frame home on the 13400 block of South Carondolet Ave. The fire appeared to be blowing out of the 1st floor rear windows and a door on the “D” side. This side had very limited access and was separated from a commercial building by only a couple feet. The hydrant directly in front of the home was not working (unknown if frozen or not) and Engine 97 secured water by using a hydrant further down the block on 134th Street. Engine 104 was in a spare. All of the occupants, including the family dog, made it out of the home safely. Eric Haak
Took a ride to the 4300 block of Henderson (in Chicago) for fire in a small house described as hoarder conditions. The house was on a dead-end street to a railroad embankment. The truck arrived first I believe so both engines backed into the block to lead out, eventually both using the same hydrant. Engine 91 hooked up to Engine 7’s gate valve. A massive tree prevented any use of a tower or aerial ladder making roof access by ground ladder only. A tough job for all concerned but carried out in short order. Steve Redick
On Saturday, November 19th, the Chicago Fire Department responded to the report of a house fire shortly after sunrise. The Englewood Fire Alarm Office had received two different locations and the first engine arrived at the first address with nothing showing. The alarm office advised they were also getting calls for 74th Street and Engine 54 landed with a fire a few seconds later. The residence was occupied but no one was at home at the time.
