A FIRE OVERNIGHT IN THE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, “GOLD COAST” section of high-dollar high-rises has left one civilian dead and 11 injured, including two FF’s.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight this morning on the 36th floor of the 44-story condominium apartment building on E. Chestnut. Dispatch started receiving a flurry of phone calls from residents on the upper floors of the condo reporting heavy smoke conditions on their floors. Many people were unable to evacuate down the fire towers because the smoke trapped them in their apartments. Some fled upwards to the roof and outside into 7-degree temperature.
The FD immediately upgraded the response to handle the immediate life hazard and brought more than 300 firefighters to the scene. Among the dozens of residents that were brought out by the FF’s was a woman who is 105-years-old. She, along with ten others, was transported to the hospital for observation. The CFD reported that 1/3 of the city’s fire equipment had been dispatched to the scene along with 18 ambulances.
Sun-Times / John White photo
The sole fatality was a woman who was found in the unit where the fire started on the 36th floor. The FD contained the fire to the location of origin and the fire was knocked down before 3 am. Several hours were then occupied with a massive secondary search through the entire building.
WGN-TV has just filed this early video report:
There is an early report from the Chicago Sun-Times HERE.
Also from WGN-TV and the Chicago Tribune HERE.
Check back later for any updates to this incident.
Recent Comments