An extra-alarm fire tore through a flea market on the West Side Tuesday morning, swallowing cars parked on the collapsing roof and sending thick black smoke through the West Humboldt Park neighborhood.
Arriving firefighters had been told at least two people may have been trapped inside the one-story building in the 4500 block of West Haddon Street that houses the Buyer's Flea Market. Firefighters rescued one person, unharmed, and officials said there were no reports of injuries as of 12:30 p.m.
The flea market is open for business just on weekends, and only several people were inside when the fire was spotted around 9 a.m., officials said.
It was quickly raised to a 2-11 alarm after crews encountered heavy smoke at the building, which covers two blocks and houses the Buyer's Flea Market, officials said.
About an hour and a half later, the fire was raised to a 3-11 as cars started fell through the burning roof and fueled the flames, officials said.
Around 11:20 a.m., commanders ordered all firefighters out of the building and raised the fire to a 4-11 alarm as heavy fire and smoke continued pouring from the building.
"Many vehicles and flammable items all members ordered out," the Chicago Fire Department tweeted. "Now surround and drown."
Helicopter footage showed flames racing across the roof and parked cars toppling to the floor below.
The roof can hold up to 1,100 parked cars, according to the flea market's website. It was not known how many were on the roof when the fire broke out.
On its website, the flea market boasts hundreds of vendors and bills itself as "Chicagoland's largest indoor/outdoor flea market."
The same family has run the market since the 1980's, according to the website.
The Department of Buildings completed a building inspection on March 19, 2014 and issued three minor building code violations that called for grading and draining the lot, stopping leaking water and repairing interior walls and ceiling, according to a department spokesman.
An inspection will be done to assess conditions after the fire, she said.
Check back for updates
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