Chicago Fire Department members were confronted with a deep seated fire and early collapse this past Saturday morning. A total of 3 alarms were sounded and several extra units special called to the 200 Block of South Adams on Chicago's west side.
The building was a large 3 story vacant with commercial on the first and apartments above with a heavy smoke condition on arrival. An interior attack was begun, but early in the fire a major interior structural collapse occurred causing a shift to totally exterior operations. Numerous tower ladders, snorkels, multiversals and point of vantage handlines were used. The fire consumed the roof area and cockloft and was fed by 30 MPH wind gusts throughout the morning.
To further complicate matters, the fleet management fuel rig became mired in mud and nearly overturned on an adjacent side street requiring a level 1 HazMat response and foam line operation. This matter was successfully resolved without further incident.
The units were heavily engaged for most of the day...finally picking up in the late afternoon hours.
