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

[Velveeta]

Choppers circling the building checking to see if there are people on the roof.

[rwfromkansas]

there isn't a need for the date on every single thread.

[SlowBoat407]

just glad the windows opened...

Yeah, nothing like giving the fire more air..

[rwfromkansas]

no sprinklers? Oh my...

[GRRRRR]

Huh? What?? "date on every single thread??

G

[stockpirate]

The fire looks as if it has burned itsef out. Cna't burn down to the next floor, concrete floor, and fire travels up and across.

Looks to be contained in one office on the floor shown. Fire door going into the hallway keeping the fire contained to that unit.

If firefighters were putting water on the fire we would be seeing steam coming out the windows.

[prairiebreeze]

Now it's been upgraded to a 4 alarm fire. Per NBCNews

[Straight Vermonter]

Drudge has the siren up.

[rwfromkansas]

the date in the title.

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks for pinging JP, I was just going to do it.

Prayers for those that may be trapped up there.

[JennysCool]

Dates are helpful in searches, etc. GRRRRR done good.

[stockpirate]

No way there are sprinklers in the area we are viewing. They would not have allowed the fire to spread and it would now be out. Also we would seee steam coming fform the windows.

10 years in the paid fire service.

[stratocaster]

EMS plan 3 has just been implemented...that means 15 more ambulances are on the way in addition to the 10 that have been on the scene. Several people have emerged with blackened faces.

[jdm]

"Drudge has the siren up."

Don't be surprised if Matt borrows a photo from this thread, for his home page. The best shots of this fire are on FR.

[prairiebreeze]

45 people were in need of assistance between floors 30 and 35 and also others on east, west sides of buiding and also on the roof. News says they are being asked to say the people were in need of assistance, not trapped.

[Neets]

Have they said what businesses are in the building?

[Deetes]

Great coverage here. Thanks . I will just stay on this thread .

[Rome2000]

The aerial can go up 10-12 stories and they can probably get a hose stream up there from that point to provide cover for the attack, but it's not going to put the fire out.

They fire will be put out by personnel connected to the standpipes which are fed via pumpers in the streets.

Tough job.

[flutters]

No problem. I hope everyone got out ok. Some here are locals and they are posting reports.

[prairiebreeze]

I heard something about executive dining rooms being somewhere close to the fire. But I didn't catch it very well.

Here's an update. Woman on 30th floor ended up having to walk to 35th floor. Told (don't know by whom) to go into conference room and put wet clothing in front of floor. They were led to safety by firefighters. One woman in the group was pregnant, several were in the conference room.