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Chicago 4-11 Alarm Fire 12-29-12 (pt 1)
It's just past 3 PM now, and I'm sitting here trying to put together everything that happened earlier today at the major fire that broke out at 2441 W. 21st Street. The first calls came in after noon, reporting a fully involved three-story brick commercial building that looked like it might have been either a factory or a warehouse. Within minutes, the situation escalated fast—what started as a simple call turned into a 4-11 alarm with an EMS Plan I and even a Haz Mat Level I response.
The building was located near some tricky spots—railroad tracks to the west and elevated CTA tracks to the north, which ended up being shut down for quite a few hours. The EMS Plan was managed quickly enough, but it took until around 4 PM before they finally scaled back the 4-11 alarm. Some firefighters stayed on the scene well into the night.
I’ve heard that two Snorkels—Squad 1 and the reserve Snorkel—and four tower ladders—Towers 5, 10, 39, and 54—were all working hard to get the situation under control. And we’re lucky to have so many people contributing photos and videos, because there’s plenty to cover.
Josh Boyajian sent over some pictures taken from Laramie and Ogden in Cicero, showing the massive header that rose high into the sky. Even from farther away, like in Berwyn, the header was impossible to miss. Drew Gresik shared some incredible shots too, capturing the sheer scale of the fire and how it filled the air with thick smoke. He mentioned that traffic was insane as people tried to get close to the scene, but the Chicago PD had set up a four-block perimeter to keep bystanders at bay.
Meanwhile, Steve Redick sent over a video link and some still shots that show just how intense things got. You can see the fire spreading rapidly across the building, with flames licking at every corner. It’s clear that the firefighters had their hands full trying to contain such a fierce blaze.
Dylan Konchan also sent some great photos, especially one from Sector 3 where you can see the massive flames burning through the roof. Another shot shows the reserve Snorkel moving into position, ready to tackle the fire head-on. There’s something surreal about seeing those towering pieces of equipment working together against such a relentless inferno.
Dave Weaver shared a detailed breakdown of the radio traffic throughout the incident, starting with the initial call and going all the way through each escalation. He even linked to his own videos so we can hear exactly what went down. Listening to the urgency in those transmissions really brings home how chaotic yet organized everything had to be.
I know it’s late, and I apologize for not getting this together sooner. But honestly, there’s so much to take in when it comes to incidents like this—it takes time to gather all the details and make sure everything is accurate. Anyway, thanks to everyone who contributed their photos and insights today—I truly appreciate it!