Posted on 12/06/2004 5:15:28 PM PST by GRRRRR
A high rise in the Chicago Loop at 135 S. LaSalle has at least one floor on fire. Live shots show a raging fire through the windows.
This is the LaSalle Bank Building. Began just after 1830h.
G
Well, it's in a major metropolitan American city.
It is continuing to spread, on a single floor.
Chicago had a high rise fire just over a year ago, major SNAFU with the Fire Dept and poor communications and some 6 or 9 people wound up dying because they were told to stay put..
G
They just confirmed no water on the fire yet...still in staging phase.
one of the TM'rs lives down there
It's a baboon, not a duck. It could be anything.
Wow!...
Watching it right now.
Thanks for the link (and the Internet)
Fire Dept update says 2 firefighters have been transported out in "red condition" all other people who've been transported have been in "yellow condition"
With a screen name like yours, you should be pretty versed on the newsworthiness of fires. ;-)
2 Firefighters have red condition. live news conference on all local channels
Does that mean search and rescue are preventing an attack on the fire?
Just got home...I run the marathon (sponsored by ABN AMRO LaSalle) every year....hope none of the injured are seriously hurt.
18 transported
"Why so much hype over this fire? It seems limited to a single floor and perhaps 1 or 2 offices."
Not a very bright post :P
"It's a baboon, not a duck."
You're all wrong! Peasants! it's upside down!!!
Prayers for them
Per CLTV:
3 firefighters transported in critical condition
CFD spokesman says 18 transported for smoke inhalation..
2 FF are in serious condition.
No fatalities reported, yet.
Prayers lifted.
2 fire fighters injured. Search and recovery still in process.
creepy like the County Bldg
So, the little square is the building, and the red "x" is the fire?
It was built before sprinklers were required
RED Condition, per CFD is serious condition.
"Five-eleven alarm fire with TWO SPECIAL alarms" have been called.
Everyone who has worked in the building continue to state there are no sprinklers in that building. I have heard some other channels saying there ARE sprinklers in the building, but the people who work there, say NO.
Fire is apparently spreading across the entire floor now, to the other side of the building, the west side is smoking more now.
YOu can still see CFD working in the two floors directly under the fire..opening windows it looks like.
Another window on the fire floor to the right of the others, is now gushing fire.
Thank you for your reply. Actually, I was thinking of internal U.S.A. local hoods. But as I said, it was a crazy thought on my part.
WBBM-TV/DT Live Stream (WMP): http://wbbm.dayport.com/viewer/content/special.php?Art_ID=5056&Format_ID=2&BitRate_ID=8&Contract_ID=67&Obj_ID=4
Anyone know what a "Special Alarm" means? Assume it's request for more help? Is it specialized help?
There are 15 stories of weight above them, and the steel will start to get real soft in the next half hour or so.
Another office to the right is now involved. Seems like clockwork. Come on CFD!!!
The fire has been burning for 2 hours now? Is that what I heard?
Greta is going to have the fire on Fox.
Yes, it apparently was first called in just about 1830 hrs, 630PM Central time...
G
Are there not water sprinklers in this building? I can't imagine a fire that isn't being fueled by gas or other accelerants continuing to burn as the video shows if the sprinklers are operating. Those things put out A LOT of water.
No, none.
There are NO sprinklers in the building. Built in 1930 to 1934. There is NO ordinance in Chicago mandating retrofitting older buildings with sprinklers, but there is ANOTHER meeting on Friday to review...how timely of them...
Looks to be intensifying in the windows on the right side of screen.
The building was completed in 1934. City ordinance exempts office buildings erected prior to 1975.
That is standard emergency operating procedure. Media is generally cordoned while an emergency situation is ongoing. Besides, the Chicago network affiliates all have helicopters and that's how they're getting the majority of their video.
There is no water on this fire yet...they are still prepping/staging to fight it...and rescuing people in the building...and there are no sprinklers- it's an older building.
That means they are searching for people that may be trapped.
Fire has burned through another partition...smoke/fire coming from at least 10 windows on the 29th floor. 5-11 Alarm with 2 special alarms...that means that 1/3rd of the entire Chicago Fire Dept. has been summoned to the fire. At least 25 trucks on the scene 18 treated for injuries/transported to hospitals. 16 are "yellow" injuries. Two firefighters have "red" injuries (serious).EMS level 3 means at least 25 ambulances have been summoned.
Still haven't heard what offices are on the 29th floor
Thanks for the link.....watching now.
"Anyone know what a "Special Alarm" means?"
It means that times are tough all over....
They never had any fire calls over 5 alarms, so instead of adding numbers, they just say "We need a lot of help, and fast" !
First water spray I've seen on video coverage being put on now
Yes, indeed.
You can see the firefighters on the floor below the fire.
Finally putting water on the fire from the outside
The farmost right window is "#10" window. The fire skipped the ninth window and burned into 10 and has now back fed in to the #9 window area...traveling through the ceiling???
OK, there is NOW a hose coming out of a window three floors down below and is shooting directly into windows 9 and 10.
Durn, wish I had photo space still..they have the hose on some sort of extension and are hanging it out the window or something...
Now shooting water into the windows from another building.
Firefighters are on the roof of an adjacent building and using the water spray.
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