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Subscribe to RSSFirefighters in Chicago spent the night battling a five-alarm blaze in single-digit temperatures. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
A massive fire ripped through a warehouse in Chicago's South Side Tuesday night, as firefighters were hampered by bone-chilling temperatures so low that water froze on their uniforms.
The 170 firefighters on the scene battled the elements on two fronts as the monster blaze consumed a warehouse building, endangering an adjacent structure, while temperatures dipped into the single-digits.
Photos taken at the scene showed flames towering above the abandoned warehouse as icicles formed on a fire hose. One photo showed a firefighter with his jacket, hat and gloves caked in chunks of ice.
“This is a major fire,” the Chicago Fire Department posted on Twitter, adding that the scale of the response -- five alarms plus two “special” calls for additional trucks -- was “extremely rare.”
Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
Icicles form on a fire hose from single digit temperatures as Chicago firefighters battle a five-alarm blaze in a warehouse on the city's South Side, on Jan. 23, in Chicago.
The fire briefly jumped to a neighboring building, causing concern, according to reports. The adjacent structure is a printing company, the building's owner told NBCChicago.com. He was worried that certain chemicals inside could explode.
Firefighters were also concerned about a nearby fuel pumping station east of the warehouse.
The fire department's messages on Twitter highlighted the intensity of the blaze: “Rear is collapsed. … North end of building starting to fall. … (The fire department) will be here for hours.”
The department declared the fire under control early Wednesday. By then, the warehouse was sheathed in a thick layer of ice.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital with a “minor back issue,” fire officials said.
It is unclear what caused the blaze.
"We haven't had a fire this big in many years," Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford told NBCChicago.com.
Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
Chicago firefighters battle a five-alarm blaze in single-digit temperatures at a warehouse on the city's south side early Wednesday.
Related content:
PhotoBlog: Icicles cover smoky remains of massive Chicago blaze
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OMG, hope it wasn't a gun or ammunition warehouse. What will the gang-bangers do?
LOL...
They'll throw rocks, use knives, bats, fists and feet, cars, it don't matter, they'll always find a way.
Where's Mrs. O'Learys cow when you need her???
Hope the firefighters stay safe. The cold and ice can make fighting a fire a whole new level of crappy.
At least one firefughter was taken to the hosptal for a back injury.
Hopefully, he is the only casualty.
This kind of fire, mixed with single digit temps triple the hazardous conditions...
Re: Bob-434277, Creek Dog and Harley Mike...Your juvenile comments are typical of those who care less as far as to the lives of these firefighters risk every day...
Chuck,
Firefighter?! (#2.4 post)
Thanks and have a nice day...
@leftisfacist...
I have family in Chicago...in particular the South Side...my late Father's old area...Cicero...
Also, I am a retired military and civilian firefighter...
Herr Hofbauer;
Take a DEEP breath and exhale s-l-o-w-l-y, now read Mr. Bob's & Mr. Creek Dog's comments with an OPEN MIND. They were only making light humor, and I was only trying to play "one upmanship". There is NO comment about or inference to hurtful feelings for the brave men and women in "red" that everyday risk their lives for us.
So, PLEASE switch to DE-CAF and put away the progressive/liberal/P.C. handbook for a month or two and try to look at life in a less anal retentive vein.
Humor at the expense of others isn't humor. Harley, leftisfascist and creekdog need to find work so they are not out trolling. In particular lefisfacist is a complete moron. His nasty piles of stink are all over this site.
Steal from someplace else.
Ahhhh, name calling. The mark of a thoughtful, well reasoned and persuasive argument.
In fact, most humor is at the expense of others.
"Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall down an open sewer and die." ---Mel Brooks
Mr. Amused in the mid-west;
I may or may not agree with a lot of what Mr. Lefisfacist and Mr. Creek Dog say at times and if you will read alot of other posts from many others you will find a diverse dialouge. I admit sometimes I want to jump on line and praise some people because they "see" things MY way and other times I want to strangle them because they don't "lock-step" with my feelings.
Hello, welcome to America.
And due to the weather here in Oswego County New York, I have a slight "break" in employment in the concrete and steel industry in which I choose to call my vocation and in which I am VERY well compensated for my knowledge and skills. So have another sip of coffee open your mind and TRY to have a nice life from here on out.
Mr. Denver Bill;
Nice come back #1.10 and nice and appropriate quote #1.11
G'morning Bill, Tracy, Mike...& thanks....
Amused,
What a coincidence that you don't like humor with a name like "Amused". Hmmmmm
Trolling.......Hmmm, I guess I have to lower my down rigger really deep because I caught your attention in the "shallow" end.
On another note, What expense & of who?! WTF?! Constipated or something?!
The vine is for any and all opinions whether you agree, or not. In fact, there wouldn't be so many posts if we all agreed on the same thing right?
"Diversity" can't live with it, can't live without it...
Have a nice day...
Morning folks,
Chuck, I talk back and forth with CD a lot, Harley on occasion, the have served our country as well as I have and still do, so stand down soldier.
Amused, you aren't amusing. In fact you are down right hateful, nasty and vile toward anyone who's opinion isn't communist lockstep with yours. As Bill said, your continued nasty discourses would tend to lead everyone to thinking you might be suffering in the IQ department or making up for other shortcomings since you can not or will not make a reasoned argument.
Why doesn't the Mayor just ban fires.............they have banned everything else.............oh that's right those bans didn't work either. NEVERMIND.
BTW, to clarify my "and still do". I am no longer military nor volunteer firefighter nor reserve police officer, I do however still provide assistance to our volunteer fire squad.
Can't we all just get along. LOL
An abandoned warehouse probably means homeless were inside. Has Chicago banned homeless people yet? Hopefully they don't find any bodies during mop up.
Mr. Tracey;
On your clarification. You mean to tell me that after (years ago) raising your right hand and taking that oath to protect and defend the Constitution, didn't (during or after your initial enlistment) become a lifelong promise/commitment in your heart?
And Good Morning to you also, ain't it a lovely day in the neighborhood?
Hey Mike,
You would have thought that after nine I would have stayed out the rest of it, but I was young and dumb. I had to quit fighting fires after my knees and back got to where they were causing me to miss WAY to much paying work. I still work on the trucks when I can, do all of their electrical and welding. It isn't being there, but it is something. The police department, would still be there, but the better half had a say in that one. Such is life.
It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood, those who are democracy/capitalist/USA intolerant seem to be out in droves today.
BTW, you pay attention, most say MS Tracy then are shocked to realize I am a dude. LOL.
If you don't have humor in life,you are going to have a very hard life.
Amen.
MISTER Tracey,
Uh, bear with me, according to my friends down south I am just a Dumb Yankee
1. Your Avatar is a MAN's silhouette.
2. You talk like a MAN.
3. You reason like a MAN.
So, why would I mistake you for a woman? : )
Ms. Linda;
Thank you for those words of true wisdom.
Life sucks when people lose their funny boners and take everything written way too seriously. I'm glad I still have mine. ;)
And just think, these are the guys mostly republican governors, and mayors are trying to destroy, take away their bargaining rights, their pensions, their benefits.
Be safe guys, the Fireman's Prayer is always in your favor!!!!
When duty call's me, oh Lord,
Wherever Flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever Be its age.
Help me embrace a little child
Before it is too late
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate
Enable me to be alert,
and oh Lord, guide my every move,
for life is so precious,
please don't let us loose.
I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me
To guard my every neighbor
And protect their property
And if according to thy will,
That I must give my life,
Then with thy protecting hand my Lord,
I pray thee, protect my children and my wife.
Amen
Ha Ha Mike, well lets just say it has happened, I won't rat anyone out on who made that mistake before. Hell, I was a suprise that I was a boy when I was born too. Name was supposed to be Jill Elizabeth, that didn't work out so good for them however, the stem got left on the apple. LOL
Would have been thoughtful without the rhetoric there moshuluu. Hell it was still thoughtful, just watch out for the Atheist, they are going to hammer you for that one!
Don't look far to see what is wrong with America. People are too dang sensitive. Someone makes a joke and it is awww you don't care and you are an dumb a$$. Geez louiz... no one said, who cares about the firefighter. Get a life. All you people do is insult people pointlessly. Take the broom out of your azz chuck, it will all be ok.
Yeah that pc crap makes me want to puke, as well.
Freedom of speech? Only if you say what the liberals approve of; otherwise, you get banned from newsvine for a while.
I am likely to get banned anyway, liberals don't like seeing the truth.
Am I exaggerating? How many times have I been banned? I have lost count.
Do you newsvine banners keep score? Man I almost said nazis!
Single digits, that's all? It's -40 where I am today going down to -50. 0 would be balmy.
But in all seriousness, good work boys. Keep safe.
I'll tell you something that was funny. I told a true story about, when I was a lad, segregation. My parents were never racist and the story showed just how stupid segregation was. The funny part was that I used the word that I used, as a child. That gave the newsvine banners a conundrum, the story was pc but the word was not. :)
This is just crazy. If the ice was starting to form, wouldn't it have helped tame the fire?
Creek Dog
I am soooo gonna steal that trolling line...:)
Gee some great reporting here. "A warehouse" What was in the building? Who owned the building? WTF
Well at least the article was about a fire as the headline indicated ....
Bob,
The story does mention that it's an "abandoned warehouse" (possibly empty) with a printing company next door.
creek,
Well that really pinpointed where the warehouse was!
Bob...
The warehouse was vacant...
As the fire is still being extinguished, ownership is not available...
The Fire Department Investigators should have answers in a timely manner...
Richard...
CFD had the location called in when the first alarm was sounded, as was the subsequent 4 and 2 (special) alarms...
If you want to find out...just wait until said location is posted, as this is still being worked...
Fire was probably started by homeless people burning things to stay warm.
Or, the owner set it ablaze to collect insurance money.
Richard,
Not sure what you're talking about. Who asked "where" it was? Read my brotha, read....
Vincent,
I'd lean towards the latter.
The other that I can think of is, a crime scene that was set on fire to destroy evidence.
Point being, an abandonded building does not start on fire all on it's own. There should be no hot wires in the building. Someone started this fire, just a matter of who and why.
Why do they never give the addresses of events? All it said was "Bridgeport neighborhood." I lived in Bridgeport for 12 years, and couldn't place the warehouse, but it did look familiar. So, I looked up "Public Storage," and found it at 1414 S. Wabash Ave. 1/2 block from the fire. The U-haul, I rented a truck from, to move out of Chicago, in 1999 is just north, out of the picture. I lived about 2 1/2 miles from the fire. I rented warehouse space at Canal and Cermak. So, knowing the address of events, is of interest to people that have been associate with the area. I lived in Chicago for 49 years, back when the city was habitable.
A new link says the fire was at 3700 S. Ashland Ave. This location makes more sense. There's an LP/Truck stop, station at 39th and Ashland.
Keeps the lookie loos away for a couple of minutes.
AWESOME!!! They are Tweeting while fighting a fire! “This fire has about one-third of the city fire apparatus at this location,” the department said on Twitter."
Nice of them to take time to TWEET! HAHAHAHA! Ehhh, it's the South Side, whats the rush?
maybe they were tweeting the governor that's getting out on parole;" job completed, sir"
.......it's the South Side, whats the rush?
====================================
Exactly, why worry about all those blue collar, working class slobs down there, what have they ever done to deserve consideration? Now, if it was the North Side, especially an area like Wrigleyville, they'd better hurry up and save all those effete snob restaurants and bars.
DDD- Come on, they are union and were on a break. It's not like they were tweeting while they were working.
ddd,
Could you or anyone else use a different word to describe something out of the ordinary BUT awesome?!!! People are beginning to sound braindead.
You 4 are real class acts... :-P
No doubt, you don't care as to the firefighters' working this fire, and the high danger this ice and extreme cold present...
Just playin grab ass Chuck. Places like Chicago (my town of employment for the last 25 years) just leave themselves open for criticism.
For once it's not about Obama or firearms.
It's called documentation. The fire department needs information about fires for arson investigations and use of resources and for posterity. Did you know we also take pictures of war, even while being shot at?
Better ban matches.
Well if we banned oxygen then the fire would have never been able to start up. Or maybe we should ban it only in certain percentages
Ah, yes! But, what percentage will be appropriate?
See now that is a deabte now isn't it? You don't really need 29.95% to breath!
We had better get a handle on global warming now! Before we all freeze to death...
Did the building have a fire sprinkler system ? Could have saved a lot of money in building cost and tax payers money for all those fire fighters ....
The firefighters are getting paid with taxpayer money whether they are fighting a fire or sleeoing at the station.
Jerry,
The building was abandonded. You would need to heat the building to make sure the water pipes do not freeze. No one is going to heat an abandonded building.
Should have been allowed to burn itself out, taking all in its wake. Much like burning the brush in the forest to mitigate the future chance of a forest fire. How else will crime be reigned in?
The firefighters are attempting to control the building and attempting to prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings, one of which houses a printing company...
You poor gun wackos (using your god Rush's favorite word there), are so mad, you just don't know what to do with all that pent up anger. Hmmm?
gregor, how about you wear a sign that says "No Weapons on Me".
Good luck!
@VikVega,
This is about a fire, so why don't you STFU about weapons. More low informed using up co2.
SallyAnn: "...using up CO2?" So now you're calling 2nd Amendment supporters trees? Take your own advice.
I don't see any one actually angry about the present gun issue- I just see people buying up what they will not be allowed to in the future. America is more armed now than it was a couple weeks ago. Not anger, just responsive to the current situation. Good decision making.
@SallyAnn,
I am sure one day you will look back at your post and laugh, but likely you should cry right now.
1. VicVega isn't the one that started derailing the conversation on the fire, your anti-gun buddy Gregor did, so you fail there.
2. Land animals (including Humans)respiration process is such that they take in O2 and expel CO2 which the CO2 is taken in by plants and they expel O2, so again you fail miserably.
3. Telling others to STFU isn't very tolerant and shows a great hypocritical side as well as potential deviant behavior that we may have to report to DHC. I believe you may be a candidate for the terror watch list.
Have a NICE day!
Hey SallyAnn......lack in reading comprehension much? Vic didn't start it. Go back, read slowly, and maybe apologise to Vic.
Tracey- I think you are right- there seems to be some mental instability there- We best take away sallys Car, Home, money and of course her PC.
Thanks Kelldon, hopefully DHS realizes fully now that mental instability and anger issues are reasons for immediate actions to prevent bad things from happening.
Wear a sign that says shoot me because I am armed.
Should have let it burn and called it urban renewal.
And your mom should have had an abortion, but you can't worry about that now-what's done is done. Too bad for us.
Aw, Brenda.....so much anger there, cupcake. What? Is this warehouse in your hood or, something?
Farmall, I believe it is possible that the owner may have had that very thought (with the added benefit of receiving insurance money) as Creek Dog said above.
Gregor, Sally Ann now Brenda - I think you all are way to deep in the HaterAid, better put down that cup and back up a bit or we will be reading how you are our next clock tower snipers.
@Tracy. Again, I believe you are correct in all aspects.
Thanks farmall. Some people seem to be just full of flipping rage on here. Wonder if DHS is watching them closely?
HAHA! Yes I noticed, and find it fairly amusing, for the most part. I'm sure some of them could entertain DHS for hours on end.
OMG, can you just imagine if these computer toughies really were what they try to pull off on here. DHS would need a staff of millions.
What is up with all the abosolute hate and venom from some of these people lately.
Maybe they aren't gettting enough fresh air? LOL!
Tracy
Thanks for posting intelligent comments, it's refreshing to actually see some comments on here that are not "I hate this" type of stuff.
O'LEARY!!!!!!!
Okay, so maybe the cow didn't do it... this time. (yes, I know there are more likely suspects for the Great Chicago Fire, but still... let's blame the cow)
Wouldn't hurt my feelings if Chicago burned to the ground.
well it would certainly cure all the murder rate there.
......and it wouldn't hurt Chicagoan's feeling if YOU burned to the ground.
Maybe they had insurance and recently purchased property to build a new warehouse.
I sure an glad I don't like in Chicago. If I had a fire at my home or business I'd want the firefighters to work on controlling and putting out the fire instead if tweeting about it. I sure hope they don't tweet while driving the fire trucks.
....and Chicagoans are glad you don't "like in Chicago" as well, they wouldn't be able to understand you. .
It's called documentation. The fire department needs information about fires for arson investigations and use of resources and for posterity. Did you know we also take pictures of war, even while being shot at?
Many fire departments have information officers that on scene of fires that do the tweeting, these are not active firefighters but administrative people. Two of the other larger departments that I can think of that do the same type of tweeting are Boston and Los Angeles. They do this as part of their public information position.
Fire that bad its a surround and drown, protect exposures and keep the fire from expanding. That being said when your just flowing water thru a master stream you have time to send a tweet. Factor in the temp in Chicago, they are cycling their personnel in and out of the fire ground.
CTbowhunter, thank you for some common sense.
God Bless and protect every fireman!!
......as the body count rises in the glorious, gun-free democrat utopia of Chicago!
.....maybe the guns were bought in your town.
You didn't complete your name, it should be "the 52% who pay taxes because they have a lot more money than the other 47%", just to be accurate.
Damn cow. He was Mrs. O'Leary's cow correct...well he must be a fox news cow, because all of their cows are shanty irish too (Hannity, O'Reilly, Kelly) they love that over there. Damn cow, more beef.
Hey Brenda, that's funny, a cow is female, not (he) male. The difference is, if you milk a bull, it has only one udder. You can use fox news bull, it has more meaning towards news. But, We now know why Mrs. O'Leary's bovine kicked over the lantern. She was trying to milk a bull!
Ben, please don't confuse poor brenda with facts. By the way, you beat me to posting the same thing.
Damn Brenda, you are on a racist, bigotry filled, hypocritical rage fit today, you got closed once already this thread. DHS REALLY needs to pay you a visit!
Maybe they did......and that's why she's quiet now. ;)
Farmall, we aren't that lucky are we?
Maybe she just imploded?
Can't even have a Fire story without the NRA nutjobs relating to thier Gun Phobia !!!!
@inArizona
If you look back up through this thread, there are your type of nutjobs posting just the same. You only want to scream about the ones you want to toss under the bus. I support equal opportunity idiocy for all, and stop discriminating Az, it is illegal and immoral! You fail.
Tracy I support equal opportunity idiocy for all.............
That is the best way to describe what what people post on here!!!!
Smitty, I am just trying to create a less hate filled and more intelligent idiocy, LOL
Perhaps history is repeating itself.....burn down the city of Crime and Corruption!!!! That's one way to get rid of Rahm and Obama!!!!
PS: Obama will never return to Chicago...home for sale and huge estate has been purchased for him by his sycophant 1 Percenters....LOL!!!!
Maybe Rahm Emanuel was fiddling...
Wonder what he was fiddling with?
I can't believe some of the ignorant comments posted here. Granted most are just meant to be funny. But look at the real picture here. These brave men and possibly women (real heros) out in this extreme weather saving someone elses property. There were probably no lives at stake other than their own.
Until you personally have worn 70lbs of gear, not counting the weight of the ice laden turncoat, for hours at a time you have no idea how important and giving these people are.
We should be thanking these fine people every chance we get.
GOD BLESS FIREFIGHTERS EVERYWHERE!!!
Ninety percent of the comments here are from harebrains.
It seems by your comments you have never worked a hard day in your life. I would love to see where your gut is. You probably could not stand in the line of fire on your best day. Coward!!!
Except that hares are smarter.
Why are you bringing rabbitts into this?
why didnt the building have a fire sprinkler sysytem ... no better way to show our respect for these fire fighters !
Building that old may well not have a usable sprinkler system...let alone a system at all...
Being vacant, if there was a system, it may well have been a 'dry'...no pressurized water in the pipes...
Also...that old building may well have been 'grandfathered' and not have an installed system...
I'm glad i don't live in Chicago anymore, down here in The south, we still have freedom to do what we want, you can park your car anywhere and it will still be there when you get back, even with the keys in the car and windows down, you can get shot for tresspassing, you can buy as many guns as you want, and they don't need to be registered, the police are all very nice and polite, will help you if you need help, no punks or gangbangers either, they know better than to come down here, they know they are not wanted in the south, i never see anyone with their pants hanging down with their underwere showing, that will get your ass kicked down here ... No corruption in our town, great weather, no arson for profit, just a bunch of good ole boys havin a good time and keeping a good eye on each other, thats the way it use to be in Chicago, but not anymore... Home sweet home...I love it...
Welcome to the south!
Must be another Miami in the south.
The last time I was in Miami, Florida - thugs and guns were as prominent as those on Chicago's southside. And plenty of ankledragging Sean John's being worn as well.
Yeah Right! All is well with the world down south! Just wait a while; those problems you ran away from will find you twofold any day now. What garbage!
Are you really proud to live somewhere where you will get your "ass kicked" for wearing your pants a certain way??
That doesn't sound like freedom to me.
Well I am Virginia I guess thats not the south anymore cause we have the same crime that is in the north.But maybe you are from Mayberry, or some other very small want to be town in the south