Large Fire Damages Northwest Side Warehouse

About eight hours after the first alarm was called for a fire at an industrial building in the Northwest Side Avondale neighborhood, the fire has been struck out.

The fire, at a four-story mixed use building and warehouse in the 2600 block of West Nelson Avenue was eventually raised to a 5-11 alarm, bring more than 200 fire department personnel, including Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Jose Santiago to the scene. The 5-11 fire was struck out just before 9:30 a.m.

Fire department personnel first called for a still-and-box alarm response at the building at 2620 W. Nelson Ave. about 1:30 a.m. Less than an hour later firefighters took a defensive firefighting attack, meaning that they would not be going into the building, and a 2-11 alarm was called.

Flames spread to all floors of the four-story, 400-foot by 400-foot warehouse, and heavy smoke was pouring from the building, according to Fire Media Affairs. By about 4 a.m., when the fire was at a 4-11 stage, fire was through the roof, as well. Portions of walls and the roof of the industrial building collapsed as crews continued to battle the blaze.

About 4:45 a.m., the response was raised to a 5-11 alarm. Fire Commissioner Santiago was at the scene overseeing operations and a total of 204 firefighters and paramedics responded to the fire. A 5-11 alarm brings at least 20 engines, four trucks, two tower ladders, five battalion chiefs, one deputy district chief, one district chief, a deputy fire commissioner, the fire commissioner, a command van and an ambulance to the scene.

Dispatch reports indicated that crews were making progress Sunday morning after positioning 12 large hose lines to douse the fire.

About 9:30 a.m. the fire department reported that the fire was under control and the 5-11 alarm had been struck out. Firefighters were expected, however, to remain at the scene for the rest of the day. No injuries were reported from the fire.

According to Fire Media Affairs, the structure was a mixed-use industrial building. A Shakespeare District police lieutenant noted that a large part of the building was a vacant warehouse.