The North Chicago Fire Department responded to a commercial building fire at a body shop on March 18, 2012. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy flames engulfing a one-story structure with exposures on both sides. The incident was upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm, bringing in mutual aid units from surrounding areas. Shortly after, the original building collapsed as the fire spread to adjacent buildings.
A firefighter cuts through a metal fence to gain access to the rear of the scene. Shaun Unell photo.
Fire burned through the back of the original building after the roof collapsed. Shaun Unell photo.
A master stream from the North Chicago tower ladder as fire took hold of the southern exposure building. Shaun Unell photo.
Several special calls were made, increasing the number of units on the scene. Hours later, the alarm was elevated to a second alarm, though the sheer number of companies on site made it effectively much larger.
Firefighters move hose to clear a spot for the Round Lake Tower Ladder as it moves into position on Sheridan Road. Shaun Unell photo.
Knollwood Engine 44 had lines off in the rear. Shaun Unell photo.
Heavy smoke escapes from the vacant apartment building as firefighters redeploy North Chicago Tower 9. Shaun Unell photo.
Engines arrived from North Chicago, Waukegan, Newport Township, Knollwood, Abbott Labs, and Lake Forest. Additional units came from the Great Lakes Naval Base, Winthrop Harbor, Lake Villa, and another from Newport Township. Five elevated master streams were in operation, including tower ladders from North Chicago, Round Lake, Highland Park, Zion, and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods. A Grayslake ladder and an Arlington Heights tower were not used, but Arlington Heights traveled the farthest—32 miles.
Highland Park Truck 33, a Sutphen mid-mount ladder, was positioned behind the fire buildings. Larry Shapiro photo.
The Newport Township hose tender, a 1977 Mack CF, was supplying Highland Park. Larry Shapiro photo.
Lincolnshire Truck 53 went to work as a master stream for the first time. Larry Shapiro photo.
Lake Bluff, Gurnee, and Deerfield had squads at the scene, and chief officers from Waukegan, Newport Township, Wauconda, and Lake Forest also responded. Two North Chicago ambulances and rehab units from Libertyville and the Antioch Rescue Squad were on site.
The Round Lake tower ladder setup in front of the exposure building to the south. Larry Shapiro photo.
The two-story brick apartment building to the south proved to be a challenge since it was deemed unsafe for interior operations, and the roof remained intact for a long time. Larry Shapiro photo.
Eventually, the fire broke through the roof, giving the elevated master streams access to extinguish it. Larry Shapiro photo.
Waukegan Engine 1611 was on a hydrant at Sheridan Road and 10th Street. Larry Shapiro photo.
The fire was directly across the street from Abbott Labs, whose fire department supplied water from their property reservoir, allowing more effective defensive operations than the city's water supply could provide.
The Abbott Labs engine was pumping from their property across the street from the fire. Larry Shapiro photo.
Zion's truck in the foreground wets down the remains of the apartment building along with the Round Lake and North Chicago towers farther down the road. Larry Shapiro photo.
There were no reported injuries, and the alarm was finally called off late that evening. Companies were released after midnight, and an excavator was brought in to bring down the remnants of an unsafe building.
Shaun Unell and Larry Shapiro were on the scene and submitted these images. More photos can be viewed HERE.
A video will be available soon.
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