Fire Reported On 29th Floor
POSTED: 6:46 pm CST December 6, 2004 UPDATED: 7:41 pm CST December 6, 2004
Firefighters are responding to reports of a high-rise fire at 135 South Lasalle St. at this hour.
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.
There are reports of people inside the building. Witnesses have said people are waving their hands out windows, and flames could be seen coming out of at least five windows.
The Chicago 911 center told NBC5 is has reports of people on the 26th, 27th, 30th and 34th floors.
One woman who works on the 40th floor spoke with NBC5 after she escaped from the building. She said she made her way in a stairwell to the 35th floor, where the smoke became too much for her. The woman said firefighters were able to rescue her and several others.
"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."
Another man, who was on the 29th floor, said he did not hear a fire alarm, but saw and smelled smoke.
"I did not hear a fire alarm, I saw smoke and I immediately went down to the lobby," the man said. "The first people who came down did not hear a fire alarm, we just saw smoke."
Several fire engines have been called to the scene, as well as 10 ambulances. Several people are being treated with oxygen outside the building.
Refresh this page for updates on this developing story.
This building has to have been renovated since 1975..probably new windows, A/C..major interiors..upgraded power and fiberoptics..it's in the prime commerical area of Chicago, right. I didn't think you could do a renovation without addign sprinklers, and I'm surprised that ANY major tenatn, like a bank..would rent unsprinklered office space..Heads are gonna roll..
Good idea. They also told the people in the WTC to stay put.