Breaking: High Rise Fire Chicago 12/06/04

12/06/04 | GRRRRR

[GRRRRR]

A high rise in the Chicago Loop at 135 S. LaSalle has at least one floor on fire. Live shots show a raging fire through the windows.

This is the LaSalle Bank Building. Began just after 1830h.

G

[Tribune7]

prayer bump

[budman_2001]

This thing is not looking good again. Is that yet another fire I see?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Joining you in prayer.

[CindyDawg]

He demanding an explanation and a guarantee something like this will never happen again?:')

[Petruchio]

Yup 3 windows on 30

just left of center

[budman_2001]

Here we go with the flames again.

[mhking]

This thing is not looking good again. Is that yet another fire I see?

Yep...

[dfwright]

Did you catch the media guy for lasalle saying that the building does have sprinklers throughout?

[budman_2001]

Poor LaSalle Bank Media spokesman. I bet he'd rather be in a bar somewhere.

[LibertyRocks]

Thanks for the link, I appreciate being able to see this.

Kinda scary seeing all the firemen directly beneath the fire right now. I hope to God this building's structure remains sound.

The media director for LaSalle bank says there was a fire drill as recently as four weeks ago. He also stated that there were sprinklers throughout the building, he can't confirm whether they worked or not.

[usconservative]

Northwest Corner, Southwest Corner, and Center of 30th floor now on fire.

Damn. This thing is just going to keep spreading through all the old nooks and crannies of that old building.

Someone just openly speculated on TV if someone was still in the building setting fires. Unbelievable.

Flames out of control on the 30th floor on TV now. 30's another "Paper laden" floor with all those paper files, etc...

[mhking]

Poor LaSalle Bank Media spokesman.

They're raking him over the coals...

[budman_2001]

Did you catch the media guy for lasalle saying that the building does have sprinklers throughout?

No, I missed it. Seems like everyone else is saying through, there's no sprinklers. I guess what else can he say----the lawyers would be all over it.

[LibertyRocks]

No doubt, I feel really sorry for Mr. Platt right now - tough position to be in.

[mhking]

My God. Look at the flames coming outta that window!

[usconservative]

The media director for LaSalle bank says there was a fire drill as recently as four weeks ago.

We did. (I work for the company.) We all had our fire drill within the last 4 weeks. I used to work on the 30th floor - there were NO SPRINKLERS in the area in which I worked, which was the SouthEAST corner of the 30th floor (which is now on fire.)

[usconservative]

My God. Look at the flames coming outta that window!

That was my old window on 30. There but for the grace of God ...

[flutters]

WGN is reporting a police presence now.

Is there a logic explanation for the fire to jump like that?

[mhking]

That was my old window on 30. There but for the grace of God ...

Indeed.

[LibertyRocks]

Reminds me of when Arlington Park burned. So many remodelings over the years leaving nooks and crannies they didn't even know about.