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3-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 4-29-16 (more)
I was on scene last night for this fire that broke out at a mattress warehouse in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side. It all went down just after 7:40 PM at a four-story building located near South Christiana Avenue and West 48th Place. From what I gathered, it was quite an intense situation, prompting the Chicago Fire Department to escalate the response to a 2-11 alarm around 8:30 PM and then to a full 3-11 alarm just half an hour later.
Conditions were far from ideal—rain was coming down steadily, making visibility inside the structure extremely limited. Smoke hugged the ground, which complicated efforts for firefighters trying to assess the situation. They had to rely heavily on thermal imaging cameras (TICs) and search ropes as they cautiously moved through the burning building. The fire itself seemed to have originated on the first floor, where mattresses and foam padding were fully involved. It was a tough fight given the materials involved and the weather.
The fire department eventually brought the flames under control around 10:45 PM, but not before two firefighters sustained minor injuries. One was transported to Holy Cross Hospital while the other went to Advocate Christ Medical Center. Fortunately, both are expected to recover without issue.
The cause of the fire is being investigated as suspicious, with the Chicago Police Department now taking over the probe. Initial reports suggest there may have been some kind of accelerant used to start the blaze, though nothing definitive has been confirmed yet.
Attached are some photos I managed to snap despite the challenging conditions. You’ll notice a lot of water and effort poured into fighting this one. The new TL 39 and TL54 engines were particularly active, using their elevated master streams to deliver water deep into the first floor where the bulk of the fire was raging. Handlines and multiversals were also critical tools in the operation.
One thing that stood out to me was how persistent the rain made the firefighting process. Not only did it hamper visibility, but it also meant flash photography was basically useless, and even my equipment got drenched during the course of the night.
All in all, it was a long and demanding shift for everyone involved, but thankfully no major injuries beyond those two firefighters. If you want to see more visuals from the scene, check out the link below. Stay safe out there!
[Insert multiple images showing various angles of the warehouse fire, including shots of firefighters battling the flames, water streaming from elevated apparatus, and close-ups of the damage done to the structure.]