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

[flutters]

Reporting that fire is progressing - in 10 windows now (was 5).

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

LaSalle Bank is a HUGE sponsor of the Chicago Marathon and at least one PGA event that I know of, not to mention funding for the arts in Chicago.

[edmond246]

hmm...how about the structral safety of the buliding. if it's an oldie, how stable is it if the corner of it burns? 45 people up above is bad...but how about those below with a possibly collapisable corner. and why is the media being pushed back...and back...

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Thank you for your reply. I needed to know.

[xJones]

I seriuosly doubt that terrorists would go after the LaSalle Bank Building in Chicago. It's not big, it's not worth the trouble. Something else is going on.

[MediaMole]

These old buildings are plenty tough. Remember, the fire wasn't helped along with jet fuel.

[NYC GOP Chick]

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

Well, I know that on 9/11, the people in the south tower of the WTC were told to stay put *before* their tower was hit. The reasoning behind that was it was full of maybe 20,000 or more people, and with the chaos surrounding the evacuation of the north tower (the one that was hit first) and flaming debris (not to mention people jumping from the north tower, and there were many of them) falling all over the place, they didn't want to add to the sheer volume of people out there.

[SE Mom]

Yep...interesting...it's going horizontal..

[edmond246]

true true, jet fuel was an issue, what is that on drudge about an explosion?

[vezke]

Did I just hear the reporter on ABC7 say the skyscraper is the first skycraper ever. Built in 1885? Is that correct?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

This building used to be known as the Field Building (as in Marshall Field, whose estate developed the building). The ugly sculpture in the foreground ;-) is the Picasso on the Plaza.

[MediaMole]

That's a little off, the building was built in the early 1930s on the site of the first skyscraper.

[TexKat]

Thanks for the link mhking.

[GRRRRR]

Now a 5-11 alarm fire...not telling what is going on deeper into that floor...

G

[TexKat]

1965 builing. No sprinklers.

[GRRRRR]

She was TOADALLY wrong...way off...

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[Petruchio]

12 injured

8 sent to hospital

according to NBC5

[A. Morgan]

Pretty sad, since I work downtown Chicago in the Prudential Building.

[Midwestguy]

5 alarm now, have to wonder if the fire is moved into the core of the building?

[flutters]

What is a 5-11 alarm fire? IPN is reporting that also and saying they're requesting two more truck companies.