Chicago 5-11 alarm = Spcials 37th & Ashland 1/22/12

[Guest]

 This fire was discovered by special ops chief

515..no 911 calls for the original alarm were ever received..strictly a

"verbal" from 515. I understand this place was vacant but was of mill

construction and had housed a funiture and lamp company in days gone by.

An unusual overpass is in place in the front of the building on Ashland

ave..that is the highway like structure in many of the photos. Units

were positioned on this overpass, although due to collapse potential had

to remain clear of the front of the fire building. Master streams were

the order of the day. The first batch of

images was shot on the Ashland side of the complex and shows rapidly

spreading heavy fire on the upper floors. TL5 was in a nice little

alcove next to the overpass, and this is where the first collapses

occurred...on the south side of the complex. Note the temps were in the

single digits and wind chill at or below zero for the duration of the

job.