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Hundreds of Chicago fire fighters battle warehouse fire, US
About 250 fire fighters responded Thursday morning, 10 December 2020, when a massive fire engulfed an auto supply warehouse in the Lawndale neighbourhood in Chicago’s West Side. About 250 Chicago fire fighters and 90 fire engines were battling an extra-alarm fire, according to the Chicago Fire Department. The fire started around 8h45am at Best Value Auto Body Supply and was quickly raised to an extra-alarm response, along with a hazardous materials response. “Someone who said they were inside the building alerted officials that the roof was on fire”, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said. The severity of the fire quickly escalated and about 250 fire fighters and 90 pieces of equipment were on scene by about 10h45am, Merritt said. One person was taken from the scene to an area hospital for treatment but that person’s injuries were not directly related to the fire. The building houses an auto supply company, according to online business directories. By about 10h20am, the fire had been elevated to a 4-11 alarm, which brings at least 16 fire engines, four fire trucks, a tower ladder truck and the fire commissioner to scene. "(The damage) is extensive. … It’s a roaring fire. The flames were shooting through the roof by the time they arrived. Crews attempted to battle the fire inside but were forced outside while dealing with high winds and water access issues,” Merritt added.
Video from the scene showed billowing grey and black smoke coming from a one-storey brick building as fire fighters directed streams of water on the fire from the ground and from snorkel trucks onto the one-storey building and a taller building next door. Source: Chicago Fire Department , Chicago Tribune |
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