2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago on Clark Street, 12-22-18 (more)

The first of two 2-11 alarm fires in Chicago occurred on December 22, 2018, at 7051 N. Clark Street. I arrived about 40 minutes into the incident, and at that point, the operation was fully defensive. Multiple hand lines and master streams were already in place, with crews working hard to contain the blaze. I had the chance to capture some images of Engine 59 and Engine 71 as they were pumping water, along with Engines 102 and 70. A new Tower Ladder 21 was also on scene, ready to deploy, though I donâ€™t believe it ever got into action.

There were several other units present, including Squad 2A, which was assisting in the operation. The fire was intense, and heavy smoke filled the area, especially in the alley behind the commercial building. I also saw the Deputy Fire Commissioner, Tim Sampey, on scene, overseeing the response. It was a large-scale operation, and the photos below give a sense of the scale and intensity of the event.