Monday, April 11, 2016

April 11, 1945 -- Entire Chicago Fire Department Called Out


April 11, 1945 -- For the first time since the Stockyards fire in May of 1934, every piece of fire equipment in the city moves to battle two lumberyard fires, one at 1800 N. Ashland Avenue and the other on the south side at 2452 Loomis Street. 45 pieces of equipment respond to the 5-11 alarm blaze on Ashland, and while it is still burning, 61 are dispatched to Loomis Street. Eleven firemen are injured in the battle to contain the fires as 54 mile-per-hour winds make the work nearly impossible. 500 fire fighters work to get the fires under control. As the Chicago Daily Tribune photo below shows one would have had a pretty good look at the flames form the north side fire if it occurred today . . . this viaduct is the one that was removed, restored and then transferred from Ashland Avenue to Western Avenue in the building of the Bloomingdale Trail, the "606".

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