The following photos are from a 3-11 alarm fire at a grocery store on Chicago’s South Side in March of 2007.  Smoke was reported coming from the rear loading dock area of the closed store at about 7:30 on a Sunday night.  The building was a large, 175 x 150, 1-story truss located at the intersection of 72nd and Exchange Streets.

Eric Haak photo

The front of the building faced commuter rail tracks which made a tight squeeze for Tower Ladder 37 who operated from this position.

Eric Haak photo

 I included a picture of the front of the building before the fire pushed through the entire structure to give perspective.

Eric Haak photo

Once it did, fire conditions in this sector were very heavy.

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Hand lines were led out into the 4-story apartment building in sector 4, and companies used this position to get water on the fire from the windows of this building, which you can see in this view from the rear of the building.

Eric Haak photo