Fire photographer Steve Redick shared some striking photos and video from the scene of a tire shop fire in Northlake, Illinois.
The fire building was used as a tire shop, apparently with lots of storage and recycling operations as well. The fire ultimately went to four alarms.
Steve reported that he arrived on scene at about the time they went to the third alarm and was able to get some good early shots of a quickly advancing fire conditions. An aerial view suggests the structure was a bow string truss building.
Water was not easy to come by; frozen hydrants were reported and some very long and time-consuming engines in line operations. A serious exposure to the west was a small frame dwelling that was a little worse for wear but was protected under some very tough conditions.
This fire was the result of what was obviously a very heavy fire load, and because it was all tires it basically turned into a flammable liquids type fire with some nearly unbelievable fire conditions.
Weather conditions were cold with pre-existing heavy snow accumulation.
See additional pics from Steve at ksc711.smugmug.com.
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