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

[Chi-One]

You're being logical, remember this is Chicago.

[Moonman62]

"The announcement said the fire was on the 29th floor, and it said for us to stay still and not to move," another woman who escaped from the building said. "We decided to just leave, despite the instructions."

Good idea. They also told the people in the WTC to stay put.

[Chi-One]

Media briefing at street level in a few minnutes.

[Kirkwood]

I just cannot understand the stupidity of those who insist on locking building fire escapes.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I thought of the same thing. That would have been me to get out despite what I was told. Might not always be the wisest, but I'm not hanging around.

[BlessedBeGod]

5-alarm fire.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Thank you for the photo. Yes, the fire seems to have diminished from the prior photos. Thank you again.

[GRRRRR]

SORRY FOR PICTURES DROPPING OUT...I've exceeded my bandwith of 200meg downloads for the day...wowow, that was quick...

GRRRRR

[TexKat]

ABC7 Video Clip:

Fire rages in Loop high-rise

[Chi-One]

Firefighters visible on the two floors below 29.

[konaice]

Good idea. They also told the people in the WTC to stay put.

Why isn't announcing directions NOT to evacuate a felony in every state?

[sharkhawk]

Actually it looks like the fire is spreading to surrounding offices, but not going up any floors

[SE Mom]

8 people taken to area hospitals with minor smoke inhalation- via AP.

Watching this on live feed..5 alarms now.

[stockpirate]

Great vidio.

[I Drive Too Fast]

From nbc5.com [local station in Chicago I do believe].

The building is the LaSalle National Bank Building, which is a 45-story building built in 1934 -- before sprinklers were required on every floor in high-rises.

Maybe it has some sprinklers, maybe it has none. I don't know for sure.

[mhking]

WBBM-TV/DT Chicago Live Stream linked from story at http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_341202525.html

[Lijahsbubbe]

The pictures were good. Thank you.

[sharkhawk]

Because you can end up going down the wrong staircase near the fire and end up dying of smoke inhalation. That's what happened to people in the 69 W. Washington tragedy.

[plymaniac]

This thing seems to be burning to the left, not the right, and not up or down. You can see firefighters with flashlights on the floor above and below. G*d keep them safe.

[GRRRRR]

It has been 59 weeks since the Cook County building fire.
There is STILL no ordinance requiring sprinklers to be installed in older buildings.

There is video shots now of CFD in the windows in the floors directly below the fire. They are apparently trying to connect hoses to the standpipes on the floors below to start working to knock the fire down on the 29th floor.

The Chicago City Council is still fighting about the ordinance for retrofitting buildings. The cost, as quoted, on WLS is about $350 per square foot for sprinkler retro fits.

AP news reporting 8 people injured, smoke inhalation...

Still no visual evidence on the TV shots of fire fighting on the fire floor...doesn't mean it's not happening, we just don't see any white steam smoke coming out of the window shots...

G