Flames shoot from ice-encrusted Chicago warehouse as blaze reignites

Flames rekindled at a Chicago warehouse, which had ignited in fire Tuesday night. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

A massive warehouse blaze that Chicago firefighters battled through the night Tuesday flared back to life Thursday morning.

Chicago fire department officials called the flare-up in the abandoned building -- which was encased in ice due to freezing temperatures -- a “significant rekindle,” NBCChicago.com reported.

Smoke could be seen pouring from the gutted building and flames shot through the frozen roof.

On Wednesday, Department Fire Commissioner John McNicholas warned that the blaze, which firefighters fought as cakes of ice formed on their uniforms, could reignite.

“We know that we still have buried debris that’s burning,” McNicholas said, according to NBCChicago.com. “That hose lines are not capable of getting at it.”

Icicles cover smoky remains of massive Chicago blaze

Firefighters deployed a high-powered “deluge unit” to douse the raging flames on Tuesday night.

“It looked like hell was on the next block,” neighbor Jaime Lamus told NBCChicago.com of the five-alarm fire that drew out more than 200 of the Windy City’s firefighters – a third of the department’s total force.

“I couldn’t believe it,” area resident Jesse Macias said of the fire. “It looked like the sun was out, that’s how bright it was. Very orange bright. It was scary, but I’m glad the fire department did their job.

Ice forms as firefighters battle Chicago's worst blaze 'in many years'

One firefighter sustained a minor injury during the initial fight to bring the fire under control. It remained unclear on Thursday what caused the fire to break out in the first place.

NBC News’ Dara Brown and NBCChicago.com contributed to this report.

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“We know that we still have buried debris that’s burning,” McNicholas said, according to NBCChicago.com. “That hose lines are not capable of getting at it.”

So let it burn. If you cant get at it.....it sure isnt going anywhere.

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:52 AM EST

I agree.

The more that burns the less you have to haul to a landfill. less trucking . less cleanup. Less money for everyone involved. less risk to frozen fire fighters.

    #1.1 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:06 PM EST
    Reply

    Fire in an abandoned building during one of the coldest times of the year? My guess is that there were some homeless people in their trying to escape the cold, they built a fire, it went out of control, and that was it.

    • 3 votes
    Reply#2 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:53 AM EST

    Wonder who owns it ... think lawyer politician, mob, ...yet i regress...( it IS chicago after all ), and if it is heavily insured?

    • 1 vote
    #2.1 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:18 PM EST
    Reply

    Chicago...the epitome of union worker's efficiency...

      Reply#3 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:03 PM EST

      Are you referring to the firefighters?

        #3.1 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:18 PM EST

        Let it come back to life so they could get overtime putting it out twice?

        Probably not but it is Chicago.

          #3.2 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:09 PM EST

          You obviously know nothing about unions or Chicago.

            #3.3 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:31 PM EST
            Reply

            if the fire trucks can't get at it then how about using an aerial tanker?

              Reply#4 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:15 PM EST

              Now THAT.....would be great. hope they record it, some poor schmuck walking along minding his own business and.....splat........

              .Great idea Laurie.....first smile i had today.

                #4.1 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:15 PM EST

                Not in a city. Not in bad weather. Picture the World Trade Center.911

                  #4.2 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:10 PM EST
                  Reply

                  Start a backfire on the north side to combat it.

                    Reply#5 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:19 PM EST

                    Let's start with your house Scooter.

                      #5.1 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:36 PM EST
                      Reply

                      Damn, somebody kill that cow!

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#6 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:50 PM EST

                      They should let it burn the whole ghetto. Start over.

                      Then repeat in Detroit.

                        Reply#7 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:12 PM EST

                        Then repeat in Detroit.

                        Yeah. In Mitt Romney's neighborhood.... Better yet his house.

                        Nice to know there are still people out there that want to annihilate anyone that does not look like them. Makes it easy to see who the thugs really are.

                        Why didn't you mention Palm Beach or Wichita?

                          #7.1 - Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:35 PM EST
                          Reply
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