This afternoon, Chicago responded to a significant commercial structure fire at 2543 W. Irving Park Road, located just west of Western Avenue. The blaze, which consumed the former site of Illinois Battery Mfg., was intense enough to produce thick, black smoke that could be seen from miles away. Fortunately, the first-floor commercial space was unoccupied, but the second-floor apartment was indeed inhabited. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries. However, due to concerns about potential hazardous materials within the building, a Level I Haz Mat response was initiated. Tower Ladder 21 and Squad 2’s Snorkel were equipped with elevated master streams to combat the flames, while Tower Ladder 23 was placed on standby but ultimately did not see deployment.
Tim Olk, Steve Redick, and Larry Shapiro arrived at the scene after the fire had been largely contained. Tim has shared a gallery HERE, Steve has his own gallery HERE, and Larry has documented his own set of images HERE.
One striking image captured by Tim Olk shows firefighters on the lower roof attempting to gain access to the fire raging above the second-floor apartment. Another powerful shot from Larry Shapiro highlights a firefighter scaling the roof to assist colleagues in tackling visible flames. In another image from Tim Olk, firefighters in Squad 2’s Snorkel can be seen working diligently to ventilate the second floor. Meanwhile, a picture taken by Larry Shapiro displays Engine 56 among the four engines actively involved in the firefighting efforts. Steve Redick’s photos capture Tower Ladder 21 and Squad 2 operating from above, deploying their master streams into the building. Other images from Larry Shapiro and Steve Redick further illustrate the extensive resources mobilized, including Tower Ladder 23 sitting prepared in Sector 3.
Throughout the incident, firefighters faced challenging conditions, as evident in Larry Shapiro’s photos showing a firefighter catching a breather amidst heavy smoke pouring from the second floor. Another compelling image from Steve Redick offers a view across the street, highlighting the immense effort required to control the blaze. These photos collectively tell the story of a coordinated and determined response by the Chicago Fire Department.
For those interested, Steve has also shared a short video documenting the scene. It’s clear that while the fire posed a serious threat, the professionalism and teamwork of the firefighters ensured a safe resolution.
Residential Ess,Solar Energy Battery,Ess Power Station,Lifepo4 Lithium Battery
Beiamp New Energy Co., Ltd. , https://www.beiamp.net