Chicago 2-11 Alarm fire, 11-17-15 (part 1)

At approximately 10:30 PM on November 17, 2015, Chicago firefighters responded to a fire at 126 E 47th Street. Battalion 5 requested a Still & Box due to a fire in a one-story commercial building. Fire companies quickly evacuated the structure and transitioned to a defensive position. Shortly after, the fire was upgraded to a 2-11 alarm. The flames spread to a two-story building to the east, causing the original structure to collapse and the adjacent building to be completely gutted. During the incident, strong winds and heavy rain intermittently affected conditions, making firefighting efforts more challenging. Multiple tower ladders were deployed, including master streams from Engine 19, along with the reserve Snorkel and multi-versals. Firefighters worked tirelessly under difficult weather conditions to contain the blaze. Several media contributors were on scene, and more updates and stories will follow. Here are some compelling images and a video from Larry Shapiro capturing the intensity of the event.